31 January 2026: Sunetra Pawar is set to make history by becoming the first woman Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. This development follows the demise of Ajit Pawar, after which the Nationalist Congress Party is moving swiftly to ensure leadership continuity.
According to party sources, a meeting of NCP MLAs will be held at 2 pm today to elect the new legislative group leader. State party president Sunil Tatkare has already submitted the official letter to the Assembly, directing all party legislators to be present for the meeting. Sunetra Pawar’s name is expected to be unanimously approved during this session.
Once the formalities are completed, Sunetra Pawar is likely to take oath as Deputy Chief Minister at 5 pm in Mumbai. With this, she will become the first woman in Maharashtra’s history to hold the Deputy Chief Minister’s post. Ahead of the ceremony, she is also expected to step down from her position as a Member of Parliament.
Sunetra Pawar arrived in Mumbai late last night from Baramati, accompanied by her son Parth Pawar, Jay Pawar, and senior political advisor Naresh Arora. Political activity intensified in both Baramati and Mumbai after the completion of Ajit Pawar’s third-day rituals, with several senior leaders and well-wishers visiting the Pawar family.
The day marks a significant political transition for the NCP and the state, as Sunetra Pawar prepares to assume a key constitutional role, opening a new chapter in Maharashtra’s political history.