Sunetra Pawar, the wife of the late Ajit Pawar, has been sworn in as Maharashtra's first woman Deputy Chief Minister. The oath was administered by Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat in Mumbai on Saturday, January 31, 2026, in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde. This development comes just three days after the death of her husband, Ajit Pawar, who died in a plane crash on January 28.

Sunetra Pawar's appointment as Deputy Chief Minister also signifies her assumption of leadership within the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). She was unanimously elected as the leader of the NCP legislature party on Saturday. Her name was proposed by senior leader Dilip Walse Patil and seconded by Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal at a meeting of the party's legislative wing at Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai.

The swearing-in ceremony was a solemn occasion, marked by emotional moments and chants of "Long Live Ajit Pawar". According to sources, the ceremony was not marked with the usual celebrations due to the tense atmosphere. Ajit Pawar, who served as Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister, was widely respected within the party and the state.

Sunetra Pawar will be taking over all the portfolios that were held by her husband, with the exception of the finance ministry.

While Sunetra Pawar has been involved in social and environmental initiatives, she has maintained a role outside of the political spotlight until recently. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, she contested from Baramati on the NCP ticket but was defeated by her sister-in-law, Supriya Sule. She was later elected to the Rajya Sabha.

Now, as the leader of the NCP and the first woman Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Sunetra Pawar faces the significant challenge of uniting the party and navigating the complexities of coalition politics. The NCP has experienced internal divisions and power struggles in recent years, and the passing of Ajit Pawar has created a leadership vacuum.

Several ministers and legislators were visibly emotional at the Vidhan Bhavan complex. At the meeting, Sunetra Pawar paid floral tributes to a portrait of her husband, with their younger son Jay in attendance.

Sunetra Pawar's political journey represents a significant shift from her previous role. Her ability to unite the NCP, maintain stability within the Mahayuti government, and address the concerns of her constituents will determine her success in this new role.