Women’s Representation Breakthrough: Sunetra Pawar to Take Oath as Deputy CM

Maharashtra politics witnessed a historic turn as Sunetra Pawar, wife of late Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, prepares to take oath as the state’s first woman Deputy Chief Minister. The decision comes after Ajit Pawar’s sudden demise in a plane crash, leaving a leadership vacuum in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

The NCP legislature party convened on Saturday to elect Sunetra Pawar as its new leader, paving the way for her swearing in ceremony scheduled for 5 p.m. in Mumbai.

Key Highlights:

• Historic Appointment: First woman Deputy CM in Maharashtra’s political history.
• Background: Sunetra Pawar is a Rajya Sabha MP; she contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections before entering Parliament.
• Succession: Takes over the role held by her late husband Ajit Pawar.
• Party Support: NCP leaders unanimously backed her leadership to maintain stability.
• Ceremony: Swearing-in scheduled for January 31, 2026, in Mumbai.
• Political Significance: Marks a milestone for women’s representation in state governance.

Her appointment is expected to bring continuity to the NCP’s role in the coalition government while symbolizing a breakthrough for women in Maharashtra’s political leadership.

Sources: The Hindu, Hindustan Times, India Today