By: The Trek News Desk
Rajya Sabha member Sunetra Pawar was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Saturday, January 31, 2026, creating history as the first woman to hold the post in the state. She assumed office following the tragic death of her husband and former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who was killed in a plane crash earlier this week.
Earlier in the day, Sunetra Pawar was unanimously elected as the leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Legislature Party in the Maharashtra Assembly. Senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal proposed her name, which received unanimous backing from 45 party legislators and leaders, including Dilip Walse Patil.
Despite her elevation to one of the state’s top executive positions, Sunetra Pawar is not currently a member of either the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly or the Legislative Council. Political sources suggest that her son, Parth Pawar, may be nominated to the Rajya Sabha after she formally takes charge as Deputy Chief Minister.
Ajit Pawar died on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, when a private aircraft crashed near Baramati, killing him and four others on board. His sudden death sent shockwaves through Maharashtra’s political landscape and led to an outpouring of grief across party lines.
Sunetra Pawar’s appointment is being seen as both a response to an unexpected personal tragedy and a landmark moment for women’s leadership in Maharashtra politics. Observers say her elevation marks the beginning of a new political chapter for the state.
Source: News Agencies
