Shadows To Spotlight: Sunetra Pawar Set To Fill Husband's Massive Shoes

Even before she stepped into the powerful Pawar family through her marriage to Ajit Pawar in 1985, Sunetra Pawar, then Sunetra Patil, had politics in her bones. Her father, Bajirao Patil, was a powerful local politician and her brother followed in his footsteps.

And yet, for nearly four decades, she stayed away from active politics, choosing to be part of decision-making behind the scenes as the NCP continued to play a pivotal role in Maharashtra and even national politics. Then came the split, when Ajit Pawar parted ways with his uncle, Sharad Pawar, in 2023 and emerged as the head of his own party, claiming the name and symbol of the NCP in the process.