Sunetra Pawar Set to Be Sworn in as Maharashtra Deputy CM This Saturday

In Shorts

• NCP leader Sunetra Pawar likely to be sworn in as Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister on Saturday.
• Her appointment follows the sudden death of Ajit Pawar in a plane crash.
• Party unity and NCP merger talks are on hold as focus shifts to leadership transition.

MUMBAI Today, political waters in Maharashtra are shifting significantly as Sunetra Pawar is set to assume the role of Deputy Chief Minister, filling the vacuum left by the sudden passing of her husband, former Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. Party insiders and government sources indicate that she is expected to take the oath of office this Saturday, in a move that marks a notable moment in the state’s political landscape.

Sunetra Pawar, a Rajya Sabha MP and a seasoned Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) figure, has received strong backing from key party leaders who believe her appointment will ensure continuity in governance and provide stability to the ruling alliance. If confirmed, she will become the first woman to hold the Deputy Chief Minister position in Maharashtra.

The decision to elevate her follows the tragic demise of Ajit Pawar in a plane crash last week near Baramati, which led to an official state mourning and expressions of grief across the region. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has publicly stated that the Mahayuti alliance will support the NCP’s decision on the deputy CM appointment.

Ahead of the potential swearing-in ceremony, NCP leaders such as Chhagan Bhujbal have called a legislature party meeting to formally elect Sunetra Pawar as leader, a procedural step considered necessary before the oath can be administered. Discussions are also underway regarding redistribution of key cabinet portfolios.

While attention remains on Sunetra Pawar’s impending elevation, broader party talks—including a potential merger between factions of the NCP—have taken a backseat as the immediate focus centers on internal reorganization and maintaining alliance cohesion.

Political analysts say that this appointment could signal both an emotional tribute to Ajit Pawar and a strategic decision to steady the party during a sensitive transition, especially with elections and alliance dynamics in view.