Sunetra Pawar to Become Maharashtra’s First Woman Deputy CM; Sharad Pawar Claims “No Idea”

January 31, 2026 — In a swift and historic political transition following the tragic demise of Ajit Pawar, his wife and Rajya Sabha MP Sunetra Pawar is set to be sworn in as the new Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. If the ceremony proceeds as expected this evening, she will become the first woman to hold this prestigious post in the state’s history.

However, the move has already sparked a fresh wave of political commentary from her uncle-in-law and NCP (SP) supremo, Sharad Pawar, who stated he was kept entirely “in the dark” regarding the decision.

A Sudden Succession

The vacancy arose earlier this week following the death of Ajit Pawar in a plane crash near Baramati. Since then, senior leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), including Praful Patel and Chhagan Bhujbal, have moved rapidly to consolidate the party’s leadership.

• The Meeting: A crucial NCP legislature party meeting is scheduled for 2:00 PM today at Vidhan Bhavan to formally elect Sunetra Pawar as their leader.
• The Oath: Sources indicate the swearing-in ceremony will likely take place at Raj Bhavan by 5:00 PM.
• Portfolios: It is expected that Sunetra will take over the Excise and Sports ministries, while the Finance portfolio—previously held by Ajit Pawar—may temporarily remain with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Sharad Pawar’s Reaction: “Their Decision, Not Ours”

While the Mahayuti alliance appears unified in this transition, the veteran Sharad Pawar has distanced himself from the development. Speaking to reporters on Saturday morning, he remarked:

“I have no idea about Sunetra Pawar being sworn in today. Those decisions are being made in Mumbai by their senior leaders like Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare. I will not comment on their internal party choices.”

The senior Pawar’s comments underscore the continued rift between the two factions, despite recent rumors of a potential “emotional merger” following the family tragedy. He clarified that while merger talks had been occurring in a “positive direction” prior to the accident, the current rush to fill the cabinet seat was a move he was not privy to.

Who is Sunetra Pawar?

Until the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Sunetra Pawar was largely known for her social work in Baramati, particularly in environmental conservation and women’s empowerment. She officially entered the political fray in a high-profile battle against her sister-in-law, Supriya Sule, for the Baramati Lok Sabha seat. Although she lost that election, she was later nominated to the Rajya Sabha.

Key Challenges Ahead:

1. Administrative Experience: Critics point to her limited experience in direct governance compared to her late husband.
2. Electoral Requirement: As a Rajya Sabha member, she will eventually need to be elected to the State Legislature (likely via the now-vacant Baramati Assembly seat).
3. Party Unity: Holding the diverse factions of the NCP together in the absence of Ajit Pawar’s “Dada” persona.

What’s Next?

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has already signaled the BJP’s support, stating the government stands firmly with the Pawar family’s decision. All eyes are now on Raj Bhavan for the official notification of the ceremony.