Sunetra Pawar Sworn in as Maharashtra’s First Woman Deputy Chief Minister Following Ajit Pawar’s Demis

Sunetra Pawar took oath as Maharashtra’s first female Deputy Chief Minister today in Mumbai. She resigns from Rajya Sabha post, marking a historic political shift in the state

Mumbai| January 31, 2026: Following the sudden demise of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, his wife Sunetra Pawar was sworn in today as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, becoming the first woman to hold the position in the state. The oath-taking ceremony was held at 5 PM in Mumbai.

Prior to the ceremony, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) held a legislative party meeting at the Vidhan Bhavan at 2 PM, where Sunetra Pawar was elected as the leader of the legislative party. MP Sunil Tatkare submitted the party’s official letter endorsing her appointment. Sunetra Pawar arrived in Mumbai from Baramati to attend the swearing-in ceremony.

Upon assuming office, Sunetra Pawar will resign from her Rajya Sabha membership, creating a vacancy that may be filled by Parth Pawar. This move reflects strategic political planning within the NCP after recent internal splits.Born in 1963 in Terd, Dharashiv district, Sunetra Pawar is 62 years old and the elder sister of former minister and MP Padmasingh Patil. She completed her commerce degree from Saraswati Bhavan College, Sambhajinagar in 1983 and married Ajit Pawar in 1985, upon the recommendation of her brother Padmasingh Patil.

Active in social work, she initiated the construction of public toilets in Katewadi, led the Nirmal Gram initiative, and spearheaded the Baramati Hi-Tech Textile Park project in 2008. In 2010, she founded the Environmental Forum of India and has served as a trustee of the Sunetra Vidya Pratishthan and as a senate member of Savitribai Phule Pune University since 2017.After the NCP split, Sunetra Pawar became politically active, contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Baramati, though she lost to Supriya Sule.

She was subsequently elected to the Rajya Sabha on June 18, 2024. Today’s oath-taking marks a significant new chapter in Maharashtra’s political history.

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