Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar. Photo credit: EMMANUAL YOGINI
The move, spearheaded by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare, is aimed at keeping the Ajit Pawar faction aligned with the BJP-led government and preventing any possible merger with the Sharad Pawar-led faction of the NCP.
Around 40 NCP legislators will meet at Vidhan Bhavan at 2 pm to elect their leader, paving the way for Sunetra Pawar’s appointment as deputy chief minister.
The BJP has extended support to the decision. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the matter is internal to the NCP and the government will abide by the decision of the party and the Pawar family.
Meanwhile, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) chief Sharad Pawar said he was neither aware nor aware of Sunetra Pawar’s appointment. He added that Ajit Pawar had earlier favored a merger of the two factions but the future of such a move now remains uncertain.
Sunetra Pawar is not a member of either House of the legislature and will have to be elected through a bypoll or nominated to the Legislative Council. A bypoll for the Baramati Assembly seat held by Ajit Pawar is expected within six months. It is also unlikely that she will receive her late husband’s financial portfolio.
Published on January 31, 2026
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