Sunetra Pawar on Saturday took oath as the first woman Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, marking a historic moment in the state’s political journey. Affectionately known as ‘Vahini’, she assumed office following the tragic death of her husband and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on Wednesday morning Ahead of the oath-taking ceremony, the NCP, a key constituent of the Mahayuti government, formally informed Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis about Sunetra Pawar’s election as the party’s legislature party leader. During a meeting held at Vidhan Bhavan, NCP legislators unanimously elected her as their leader, paving the way for her elevation to the post of Deputy Chief Minister.. All portfolios earlier held by Ajit Pawar, except Finance and Planning, have been transferred to Sunetra Pawar. The oath-taking ceremony, scheduled for 5 pm, was a low-key affair restricted to administrative formalities. Only the Chief Minister, Cabinet Ministers, Chief Secretary, Director General of Police and a few close family members were present, with no elaborate arrangements. Born in 1963 in Dharashiv, formerly Osmanabad, Sunetra Pawar comes from a family deeply rooted in public life. Her father, Bajirao Patil, was a veteran regional leader, while her brother Padamsinh Bajirao Patil played a significant role in district politics during the 1980s.An alumnus of SB College, Aurangabad, she holds a BCom degree. Beyond politics, she has managed major industrial ventures, including the Baramati High-Tech Textile Park, overseeing production, investment, employment and women’s empowerment. As a trustee of Vidya Pratishthan, she also supervises academic and administrative functions for over 25,000 students. Sunetra Pawar’s elevation reflects both continuity and change, as Maharashtra witnesses a historic first while navigating a period of transition.
