Sunetra Pawar sworn in as Maharashtra’s first woman Deputy Chief Minister

Sunetra Pawar was sworn in as Maharashtra’s first woman deputy chief minister after being unanimously elected NCP legislature leader

PGurus Newsdesk

January 31, 2026

Sunetra Pawar became Maharashtra’s first woman deputy CM on Saturday following her unanimous election by NCP legislators

After Ajit Pawar’s death, Sunetra Pawar becomes Maharashtra deputy CM

Rajya Sabha MP Sunetra Pawar was sworn in as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister on Saturday evening, becoming the first woman to hold the post in the state. The oath-taking ceremony took place at Lok Bhavan at 5 pm and was attended by senior leaders of the Mahayuti alliance.

Earlier in the day, Sunetra Pawar was unanimously elected as the leader of the Nationalist Congress Party’s legislature group at a meeting of the party’s MLAs at the Vidhan Bhavan. Her nomination was proposed by senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal and seconded by other senior party leaders.

Her elevation comes days after the sudden demise of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash, a development that created a leadership vacuum within the NCP and the state government. The party moved swiftly to ensure continuity in governance by selecting Sunetra Pawar as its nominee for the post.

Sunetra Pawar, 62, entered the Rajya Sabha on June 18, 2024, after unsuccessfully contesting the Lok Sabha elections earlier that year. As she is not currently a member of the Maharashtra legislature, she will be required to either win a bypoll or secure a seat in the Legislative Council within the constitutionally mandated period. The Baramati Assembly seat, previously held by Ajit Pawar, is also due for a bypoll within six months.

Meanwhile, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar said on Saturday that discussions had been underway regarding a possible reunification of the two NCP factions, tentatively scheduled for February 12. He claimed he was unaware of Sunetra Pawar’s appointment as Deputy Chief Minister and said he was not part of the discussions related to her elevation.

Earlier in the day, Ajit Pawar’s son met Sharad Pawar at his residence in Baramati, adding a new dimension to the ongoing political developments within the party.

It remains unclear whether Sunetra Pawar will take charge of key portfolios previously handled by Ajit Pawar, including the finance department. Party leaders said discussions on portfolio allocation are expected to take place in the coming days.

The swearing-in of Sunetra Pawar is being seen as a significant moment in Maharashtra politics, both for ensuring stability in the Mahayuti government and for marking a historic first for women in the state’s executive leadership.

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