Rajya Sabha member Sunetra Pawar is set to be sworn in as Maharashtra’s first woman deputy chief minister at 5 pm on Saturday, marking a historic moment for the state and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Her elevation comes just two days after the sudden and tragic death of her husband, senior NCP leader and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, in a plane crash near Baramati, an event that has deeply shaken Maharashtra’s political landscape and accelerated a series of crucial political decisions within the party.
Sunetra Pawar, 62, who unsuccessfully contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections before being elected to the Rajya Sabha in June last year, is expected to be unanimously chosen as the leader of the NCP legislature party at a meeting scheduled for 2 pm at Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai. Following this formal election, she will be sworn in at a low-key ceremony at Lok Bhavan later in the evening, according to party leaders familiar with the developments. Her appointment is widely seen as both a gesture of continuity and stability within the NCP and a symbolic recognition of her place within the influential Pawar family during a moment of profound personal and political loss.
Rapid Political Transition After Ajit Pawar’s Death
The decision to elevate Sunetra Pawar to the post of deputy chief minister was taken amid extraordinary circumstances. Ajit Pawar’s death in a plane crash on Wednesday morning not only ended a powerful chapter in Maharashtra politics but also left a sudden leadership vacuum within the NCP’s legislative wing and the state government. Ajit Pawar, 66, had been one of the most influential figures in state politics, holding key portfolios and commanding the loyalty of a significant section of legislators.
According to party insiders, the NCP leadership moved swiftly to ensure stability in both the government and the party. Senior leaders held a series of meetings, first internally and then with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, to finalise the succession plan. Food and civil supplies minister Chhagan Bhujbal confirmed that the party had decided to finalise Sunetra Pawar’s name for both the leadership of the legislature party and the post of deputy chief minister. He said the timing of the swearing-in was discussed with the chief minister, who conveyed his availability for Saturday, clearing the way for an immediate transition.
Backing from within the party appeared unanimous. Senior minister Manikrao Kokate said there was no doubt that Sunetra Pawar would lead the legislative party, adding that she would be authorised to take decisions on behalf of the legislators. State NCP chief Sunil Tatkare said a joint meeting of legislators, parliamentarians and senior leaders would be held at Vidhan Bhavan to elect the legislative party leader, noting that Sunetra Pawar was expected to attend despite being occupied with family rituals following her husband’s death.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also publicly stated that the decision regarding the deputy chief minister’s post rested with the NCP, and that the government would fully support whatever decision the party and the Pawar family took. He said NCP leaders had met him twice to discuss the internal process and available options, and that the government stood firmly with the Pawar family during this difficult time.
While the swearing-in ceremony is expected to be low key, its political significance is substantial. Sunetra Pawar will become the first woman to hold the post of deputy chief minister in Maharashtra, a state where women’s representation at the highest executive levels has historically been limited. Her appointment is also being seen as a move to preserve the political legacy of Ajit Pawar and maintain cohesion within the party ranks at a sensitive moment.
However, several questions remain unresolved. Sunetra Pawar is not currently a member of either house of the Maharashtra legislature, which means she will need to either contest a by-election or be nominated to the Legislative Council to continue in office beyond the constitutionally permitted period. The Baramati assembly seat, represented by Ajit Pawar, is expected to go to a bypoll within the next six months, adding another layer of political calculation to the situation. It is also not yet clear whether she will handle the key finance portfolio and other ministries previously held by her husband, decisions that are likely to be taken after consultations within the party and the government.
NCP’s Internal Dynamics and the Question of Party Merger
Sunetra Pawar’s swearing-in is taking place against the backdrop of significant internal churn within the NCP, including renewed discussions about a possible merger between the two factions of the party. The merger talks, which had been initiated earlier and had even seen the two factions contest some local body elections together, were expected to be discussed at a Pawar family meeting in Baramati. However, party sources indicated that the swearing-in ceremony would likely take place even before that family meeting, underscoring the urgency with which the leadership transition is being handled.
According to party insiders, Sunetra Pawar expressed her willingness to accept the post after consultations with senior leaders, following which Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare and Chhagan Bhujbal met the chief minister to convey the party’s decision. A senior NCP leader described the meeting with the chief minister as a formality, noting that the approval of the BJP leadership and the chief minister was an important step in the process. The chief minister reportedly urged the NCP to complete the process at the earliest and even suggested holding the swearing-in on Saturday itself.
Praful Patel later said there was no opposition within the party to Sunetra Pawar becoming the new leader of the NCP legislature wing. Earlier in the day, NCP leaders had briefly met Sunetra Pawar in Baramati, and later the party’s political strategist Naresh Arora held discussions with her and her sons, Parth and Jay, regarding the timing of meetings and the swearing-in ceremony. After receiving the family’s approval, the party office contacted legislators and asked them to attend the meeting at Vidhan Bhavan.
Late on Friday, Sunetra Pawar left Baramati for Mumbai along with her sons. Party leaders indicated that discussions were also underway regarding the post of national president of the NCP, which is expected to remain within the Pawar family, though a final decision on that front is likely to be taken at a later stage.
At the same time, pressure for a merger between the two NCP factions has been steadily mounting. While leaders from Ajit Pawar’s faction had earlier taken a cautious approach, sources said there was growing support among legislators for a merger, particularly after leaders from the Sharad Pawar-led faction publicly stated that Ajit Pawar had held discussions with them about reunification earlier this year. Statements by leaders such as Jayant Patil, Ankush Kakade and Shashikant Shinde reportedly encouraged more legislators to speak in favour of a merger.
Despite this, the issue remains contentious. Some leaders within the party are said to be opposing the merger, and a senior NCP minister acknowledged that a power struggle between leaders of the two factions had already begun. According to him, while the Sharad Pawar-led faction appears more eager for reunification, the final decision is likely to be deferred for at least a couple of weeks to allow tempers to cool and internal consultations to continue.
These political developments are unfolding in the shadow of the tragedy that claimed Ajit Pawar’s life. On Wednesday morning, Ajit Pawar and four others were killed when a mid-size business jet crashed near the Baramati airstrip. The aircraft had taken off from Mumbai at 8.10 am, heading to Baramati where Ajit Pawar was scheduled to address rallies for upcoming rural body elections. After aborting its first landing attempt due to poor visibility, the plane circled back for a second attempt but veered off course moments later, with air traffic control spotting flames near the runway at 8.44 am. The aircraft had been in the air for just 33 minutes.
Local residents said Ajit Pawar’s remains were identified by his wristwatch. His ashes were immersed at the confluence of the Neera and Karha rivers near Baramati on Friday, in the presence of his sons Parth and Jay, his wife Sunetra Pawar, NCP leader Supriya Sule and other family members. Sharad Pawar also visited nearby villages in the Baramati region, meeting locals who raised concerns about contaminated water, a reminder of the deep-rooted connection between the Pawar family and the region they have long represented.
As Sunetra Pawar prepares to take oath, Maharashtra’s political establishment is watching closely. Her ascent marks a significant moment not only for the NCP but also for the state’s political history, coming at a time of grief, transition and uncertainty. The coming weeks are expected to test her political acumen as she navigates governance responsibilities, internal party dynamics and the unresolved question of the NCP’s future unity, all while stepping into a role shaped by the formidable legacy of Ajit Pawar.
