Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended his best wishes to Sunetra Pawar for becoming the first woman Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
In a post on X, he said, "Best wishes to Sunetra Pawar Ji as she begins her tenure as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, the first woman to hold this responsibility."
He asserted that she will fulfil the vision of "late Ajit Dada". "I am confident she will work tirelessly for the welfare of the people of the state and fulfil the vision of the late Ajitdada Pawar," he stated.
Best wishes to Sunetra Pawar Ji as she begins her tenure as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, the first woman to hold this responsibility. I am confident she will work tirelessly for the welfare of the people of the state and fulfil the vision of the late Ajitdada Pawar.…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 31, 2026
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Ajit Pawar, the state's Deputy Chief Minister and NCP president, died in a plane crash, in Baramati, on January 28. On Saturday, Sunetra Pawar was chosen as the leader of the NCP Legislature Party. Governor Acharya Devvrat administered her the oath of office and secrecy.
Her nomination came from senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal. Other senior leaders supported it, and she was elected unanimously.
Vows to work for people of Maharashtra
In a post on X, Sunetra said that her heart was "truly overflowing" as she took the oath as the Deputy CHief Minister. "Respected Ajitdada has given the mantra of living one's entire life for farmers, laborers, women, youth, and deprived sections. Today, carrying forward the legacy of their thoughts with unwavering loyalty to the principles of ‘Shiv-Shahu-Phule-Ambedkar', my heart is truly overflowing as I accept the responsibility of the Deputy Chief Minister position with a sense of duty," she stated.
She vowed to work tirelessly for the people and develop Maharashtra. "Though the untimely passing of Dada has caused a mountain of sorrow to crash upon my heart, the true support I have is the duty-bound commitment, the strength to struggle, and the bond with the people that he taught me. I will continue to work tirelessly and honestly to realize the just, equality-based, and developed Maharashtra of his dreams," asserted Sunetra.
"In these difficult times, the love and support from the people of Maharashtra is my true strength. With the power of your trust, illuminating Dada's ideals, I will keep moving forward with new hope," she further said.
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The ceremony
During the swearing-in ceremony, Sunetra wore a white saree as she took the oath while people chanted "Ajit Dada amar rahein".
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde were also present. However, no one from the extended Pawar family attended the ceremony.
In addition to being the Deputy Chief Minister of the state, Sunetra has been assigned the portfolios of state excise, sports and youth welfare, minority development and Aukaf.
