Sunetra Pawar Assumes Office as Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister
First woman deputy CM begins ministerial duties, participates in key state meetings
Maharashtra, Feb 10 : Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar on Tuesday formally assumed her ministerial responsibilities at the state secretariat, Mantralaya, 13 days after the tragic death of her husband and former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
Accompanied by senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders and her elder son Parth Pawar, Sunetra Pawar took her seat in the deputy CM’s office, marking a solemn transition in the state’s leadership. Prominent NCP figures including Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, Chhagan Bhujbal, and Dhananjay Munde were present during the occasion.
She is set to attend the cabinet meeting scheduled on Tuesday, the first since Ajit Pawar’s passing, and will also participate in the business advisory committee meeting ahead of the February 23 budget session.
Sunetra Pawar, who took oath as Maharashtra’s first woman deputy Chief Minister on January 31, holds portfolios including excise, sports, minority welfare, and Auqaf. She has also been appointed guardian minister for Beed and Pune districts.
Earlier on Tuesday, she arrived in Mumbai from Pune, offering prayers at Siddhivinayak Temple and the BR Ambedkar memorial at Chaityabhoomi, Dadar. She also visited the NCP office to meet party MLAs and ministers before proceeding to Mantralaya.
In a related political update, the NCP retained the Pune Zilla Parishad in the first election held after Ajit Pawar’s demise, securing 51 of 73 seats. The election saw NCP and Sharad Pawar’s faction contest together on the ‘clock’ symbol.
