Maharashtra Deputy CM Oath Date, time, venue, guest list: Sunetra Pawar, a Rajya Sabha MP and the wife of the late NCP chief Ajit Pawar, is set to take her oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra today.
At 5 PM at Lok Bhavan, she will step into the role held by her husband until just four days ago, becoming the first woman in the history of the state to hold this high office.
The guest list of leaders attending the ceremony is not known yet.
A Duty Born of Grief
The political landscape of the state was upended on January 28, when a Learjet 45 carrying Ajit Pawar—affectionately known as “Dada”—crashed in Baramati during a routine trip for election rallies. The sudden loss created a massive leadership vacuum in the NCP and the ruling Mahayuti government.
Since the crash, the sentiment within the party has been clear: the family must lead. Earlier today, senior NCP figures Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare met with Sunetra at her residence to finalize the transition. By 2 PM, the party’s legislature wing had officially named her their leader.
“Standing Behind the Family”
The transition has seen a rare moment of political unity. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, whose BJP leads the ruling alliance, made it clear that the government would fully support the Pawar family’s decision.
“We are standing firmly behind Ajit Dada’s family and the NCP,” Fadnavis stated. “The BJP will support whatever decision they take to ensure stability and continuity in governance.”
The Unspoken Distance
While the Mahayuti alliance moves forward, Sharad Pawar has maintained a quiet, almost distant stance. Speaking from Baramati, he told reporters he had “no information” about the swearing-in. “Her party must have decided,” he remarked, underscoring the deep and complicated lines that still exist within the Pawar family even in a time of shared grief.
As Sunetra Pawar prepares to take her oath this evening, she carries more than just a portfolio; she carries the legacy of a man who dominated the state’s politics for decades. Today, she is a leader stepping to lead a state of 120 million people.