Full statement:

Respected Ajit Dada dedicated his life to giving a mantra of living for farmers, laborers, women, youth, and the underprivileged sections of society. While carrying forward the legacy of his thoughts and work, and stating that this responsibility is being accepted with a sense of duty and loyalty to the ideologies of 'Shiva-Shahu-Phule-Ambedkar,' the untimely passing of Dada has cast a mountain of grief not only over my personal life but over the hearts of the entire Maharashtra. However, the devotion to duty, the strength of struggle, and the honest commitment to the people that he gave me are my true foundations. 

Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajitdada Pawar expressed confidence that she will continue to work with continuous honesty, transparency, and a people-oriented approach to build a just, equality-based, and developed Maharashtra of his dreams.

In this difficult time, the love, trust, and support given by the people of Maharashtra are my greatest strengths. Based on your trust, I will continue to move forward with new hope and energy, keeping Dada's thoughts alive. Sunetra Ajitdada Pawar also stated that her top priority will be the effective implementation of every government scheme for the welfare of farmers, opportunities for youth, empowerment of women, and to raise the standard of living for the common man.

To strengthen Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Viksit Bharat 2047' and to achieve the all-round development of Maharashtra under the guidance of Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, the state government will always remain proactive. Furthermore, Sunetra Ajitdada Pawar gave her word that everyone will very honestly fulfill the responsibility of capably carrying forward the legacy of the thoughts of the architect of modern Maharashtra, the late Yashwantrao Chavan Saheb.

Under the leadership of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and alongside Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, I will always strive for the overall development of Maharashtra, social equality, economic progress, and inclusive prosperity. Sunetra Pawar expressed her resolve to do justice to the expectations of the people, make the government and administration more sensitive and people-oriented, and take the state to new heights of development.

Once again expressing heartfelt gratitude to the people and colleagues of Maharashtra, Sunetra Pawar also promised that she would work to her full potential to prove worthy of the trust placed in her by her colleagues in the Nationalist Congress Party.

Warm wishes to Smt. Sunetra Pawar ji as she takes oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. I am confident, she will devote herself wholeheartedly to the welfare of the people of Maharashtra and carry forward the spirit of public service upheld by late Shri Ajit Pawar.

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) January 31, 2026

 "Respected Ajit dada has given the mantra of living one's entire life for farmers, labourers, women, youth, and deprived sections...I will continue to work tirelessly and honestly to realise the just, equality-based, and developed Maharashtra of his dreams. In these difficult times, the love and support from the people of Maharashtra are my true strength," said Sunetra Pawar on Ajit Pawar. 

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.…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 31, 2026

Sunetra Pawar Takes Oath, Becomes Maharashtra's 1st Woman Deputy Chief Minister

The NCP, a constituent of the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra, on Saturday submitted a letter on the election of Sunetra Pawar, wife of Ajit Pawar, as its legislature party leader to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Sunetra Pawar is set to take oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of the state, replacing Ajit Pawar, who died in a plane crash on Wednesday.

On Wednesday morning, NCP chief and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash. Just three days later, on Saturday evening, his wife Sunetra Pawar is set to take the oath as Deputy Chief Minister.

Sunetra Pawar named leader of NCP legislature party hours before Maharashtra oath ceremony

During a meeting at Vidhan Bhavan, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders unanimously elected Sunetra Pawar as party leader. She is set to become Maharashtra's first woman Deputy Chief Minister.

The oath taking ceremy, scheduled for today, 5 pm, will be a low-key affair, limited entirely to administrative formalities. There will be no elaborate decorations or grand lighting arrangements.

Only the Chief Minister, Cabinet Ministers, Chief Secretary, Director General of Police (DGP), and a few selected family members will be present at the ceremony.

After her husband, Ajit Pawar, died in a plane crash on Wednesday morning, the post of Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and NCP Chief fell vacant, prompting the Rajya Sabha MP to take over the role. But there is a condition - Sunetra Pawar needs to get elected to the state legislature (as an MLA or MLC) within six months.

Born in 1963 in Dharashiv (formerly Osmanabad), Sunetra Pawar's political DNA predates her marriage into the Pawar family. Her father, Bajirao Patil, was a veteran regional leader, and her brother, Padamsinh Bajirao Patil, was a formidable figure in district politics during the 1980s. She grew up in a household where public life and politics were part of everyday conversation.

Sunetra Pawar holds a BCom degree from SB College, Aurangabad. Despite her commerce degree, she has led large industrial ventures like the Baramati High-Tech Textile Park, where she was responsible for decision-making on four fronts: production, investment, employment, and women's empowerment.

As a business entrepreneur, she translated her academic background into institutional management. As a trustee of a large educational group like Vidya Pratishthan, she oversees the education, academic quality, and administrative structure for over 25,000 students.

Known for her clean image, she has often been seen involved in social service activities.

According to information on her website, she founded the Environmental Forum og India (EFOI), under which she played a key role in transforming Katewadi village into India's first 'eco village', a model for water conservation and solar energy.

The decision to appoint Sunetra Pawar as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra was taken by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and the Pawar family was not consulted, said Ajit Pawar's uncle and NCP-SP Chief, Sharad Pawar.

When asked if he was sidelined from the process of deciding Ajit Pawar's successor, Sharad Pawar said, "I don't know."

Senior Pawar's remarks clearly indicate a demarcation between politics and family. In July 2023, the NCP split into two factions after Ajit Pawar walked out of his party, breaking from his uncle's side to carve his own path in the political history of the state.

In the political corridors of Maharashtra, the name 'Pawar' has long been synonymous with power. But right now, the spotlight is not on a seasoned politician from the Pawar family, but a face that has spent decades observing the machinery of governance from behind the scenes: Sunetra Pawar, affectionately known as 'vahini' (sister-in-law).

Amid the political vacuum created after Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Rajya Sabha MP Sunetra Pawar is emerging as a decisive force in state politics. Leaders of the Ajit Pawar faction appear ready to accept her leadership as she steps into the forefront.

Academically, a graduate, Sunetra Pawar's parliamentary record so far has been average, writes Mayur Parikh. Read here