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Sunetra Pawar sworn in as first woman Deputy CM of Maharashtra
She succeeded her husband Ajit Pawar who died in a tragic plane crash on January 28
- PUBLISHED: Sat 31 Jan 2026, 6:25 PM
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Sunetra Pawar, leader of the Nationalist Congress Party took oath on Saturday as the state's Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, succeeding her husband Ajit Pawar who died in a tragic plane crash on January 28.
Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat administered the oath of office to the 62-year-old at Lok Bhavan in Mumbai in the presence of the state's Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde.
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She stepped into fill the post that became vacant following the demise of Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on January 28 in Baramati. With this, Sunetra Pawar becomes the first woman Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
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Maharashtra Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Maharashtra State President of NCP, Sunil Tatkare and NCP Working President Praful Patel, and Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujbal were also present at the occasion.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent across his best wishes via social media.
"Best wishes to Sunetra Pawar Ji as she begins her tenure as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, the first woman to hold this responsibility. I am confident she will work tirelessly for the welfare of the people of the state and fulfil the vision of the late Ajitdada Pawar," Modi's post on X said.
Sunetra was given state excise duty, Sports and Youth Welfare, Minorities Development & Aukaf departments. The portfolios of Planning and Finance, which were assigned to the late Ajit Pawar, are now being held by CM Devendra Fadnavis.
[With ANI inputs]
