Sunetra Pawar, the wife of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, is set to take on a prominent role following her husband’s tragic death in a plane crash on Wednesday morning. The decision to appoint her as Deputy Chief Minister was made solely by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar’s uncle and NCP-SP chief, revealed that the family was not consulted.

Addressing the media in Baramati, Sharad Pawar stated, “I don’t know,” when asked about being involved in the decision-making process for Ajit Pawar’s successor. He further clarified that he learned about the planned oath ceremony on Saturday evening through news reports. “We don’t know about the swearing-in. We got to know about it through the news. I have no idea about the swearing-in,” he added.

Sharad Pawar’s remarks underscore a clear separation between family matters and political decisions. The development comes after the NCP experienced a split in 2023, when Ajit Pawar broke away from his uncle’s faction to establish his own political path within Maharashtra.

This appointment positions Sunetra Pawar to carry forward her late husband’s political legacy, even as senior party leaders maintain a cautious distance from the process.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said he would personally oversee the preparation of the Maharashtra government’s 2026–27 budget following the death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, underlining the need for administrative continuity during the transition.

Fadnavis said Ajit Pawar, who also held the finance portfolio, had already completed most of the groundwork for the upcoming financial year. The chief minister added that he would step in to ensure the process moves forward without disruption.

“To ensure his vision is fulfilled, I will personally oversee the budget work starting tomorrow,” Fadnavis said, noting that Pawar had invested considerable effort in preparing the financial roadmap.

The chief minister clarified that while the bulk of the budget exercise had been completed by Ajit Pawar, decisions regarding who would formally present the budget in the legislature would be taken at a later stage.

“Ajit Dada had handled all the budget preparations. I will now look into the remaining processes. We will decide in due course who will present the budget,” he said.

Fadnavis also sought to reassure political stability within the ruling MahaYuti alliance. He said the Bharatiya Janata Party and the state government would stand “with full force” behind the Nationalist Congress Party and Ajit Pawar’s family.

“Whatever decision the NCP takes regarding its leadership or the family, we as a government and as the BJP will stand firmly behind them,” the chief minister said.

Responding to questions on the vacant deputy chief minister’s post, Fadnavis said discussions were ongoing but emphasised that the decision rested entirely with the NCP.

“They have met me twice to discuss their internal procedures and options. The final call is theirs, and it would not be appropriate for me to comment until they decide,” he said.

Fadnavis also spoke about the pending mayoral elections in Mumbai, Nagpur and other cities, stating that talks within the MahaYuti alliance were continuing. He said candidates would be finalised after consultations with local party leaders and legislators in the coming days.

Sunetra Pawar is likely to take oath as Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister on Saturday evening, marking a decisive shift in her political journey that has largely remained out of the public eye for nearly four decades.

Born Sunetra Patil, she was familiar with politics long before marrying Ajit Pawar in 1985. Her father Bajirao Patil was a prominent local leader, and her brother also remained active in public life. Despite this background, Sunetra Pawar chose not to contest elections for years, instead contributing to political decision-making quietly as the Nationalist Congress Party played a key role in Maharashtra and national politics.

That changed after the NCP split in 2023, when Ajit Pawar broke away from his uncle Sharad Pawar and laid claim to the party’s name and symbol. A year later, Sunetra Pawar entered electoral politics, contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Baramati against her sister-in-law Supriya Sule. She lost the contest by a margin of over 1.5 lakh votes but was elected to the Rajya Sabha a few months later.

Her political trajectory took a dramatic turn on Wednesday after a plane crash claimed the life of Ajit Pawar and four others. The development has placed Sunetra Pawar at the centre of Maharashtra’s political landscape.

At 62, and still coping with personal loss, she is expected to take charge as the NCP legislature party leader and assume the role of deputy chief minister, stepping into a position long associated with her husband’s political influence.

Education and public initiatives

Born in October 1963, Sunetra Pawar holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from SB College in Aurangabad. After her marriage, she was associated with the Baramati High-Tech Textile Park, where she was involved in decision-making related to production, investment, employment, and women’s empowerment.

She is also a trustee of Vidya Pratishthan, an educational group that caters to over 25,000 students.

In 2010, she founded the Environmental Forum of India, which played a role in developing Katewadi village as the country’s first eco-village, focusing on water conservation and solar energy use. Her work has included grassroots campaigns on biodiversity protection, water management, and drought mitigation.

Swearing-in and political challenges ahead

Sunetra Pawar is expected to be sworn in at 5 pm on Saturday, following discussions within the party that led to her agreeing to take up the responsibility.

NCP leader and Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal said that many within the party believe she should be given the role, adding that the vacant deputy chief minister’s post could be filled by her. He also indicated that a meeting would be held to elect the legislature party leader.

NCP working president Praful Patel said the party was united on the decision.

One of the key political questions ahead of Sunetra Pawar’s tenure will be whether the NCP should pursue reunification with the Sharad Pawar faction. Party sources have said Ajit Pawar was working towards a reunion before his death, though the political dynamics may now shift.

Any reunification would also raise questions about future leadership and political alignment, as Ajit Pawar’s faction is currently aligned with the BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, while the Sharad Pawar group remains with the Congress and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena.