Maharashtra

Mumbai: Maharashtra’s political landscape is in flux following the tragic death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash. While it was initially expected that the Pawar family and both factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) would unite in grief, divisions appear to be resurfacing. Ajit Pawar’s wife, Sunetra Pawar, has assumed his Deputy Chief Minister responsibilities, but the real power struggle is far from over. Leaders of Ajit Pawar’s faction, including Sunil Tatkare, have set conditions that make a merger of the two NCP factions challenging. Tatkare emphasized that the NCP is aligned with the NDA, welcoming anyone willing to join the coalition. Meanwhile, Sunetra Pawar has resigned from the Rajya Sabha, opening the stage for discussions about succession. Aji...

Mumbai, Jan 31:The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), a constituent of the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra, on Saturday formally submitted a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis regarding the election of Sunetra Pawar, wife of the late Ajit Pawar, as the party’s legislature party leader. Sunetra Pawar is set to be sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, succeeding her husband, who died in a plane crash on Wednesday. Senior NCP leaders, including Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, and Chhagan Bhujbal, met CM Fadnavis at his official residence ‘Varsha’ in South Mumbai to hand over the letter. The Chief Minister will forward it to Governor Acharya Devvrat for further action. Sunetra Pawar was elected NCP legislature party leader during a meeting held in Mumbai on Satu...

Baramati: Three days after the tragic demise of senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar, party founder Sharad Pawar on Friday broke his silence on the rapidly unfolding political developments, including the reported elevation of Sunetra Pawar as Deputy Chief Minister and the possible merger of the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Addressing a press conference in Baramati, Sharad Pawar said that major organisational and political decisions are currently being taken in Mumbai without consulting him. He clarified that while there is no discord within the family, he was neither informed nor consulted about Sunetra Pawar’s induction as Deputy Chief Minister. Merger Talks Were at an Advanced Stage Sharad Pawar revealed that discussions regarding the merger of the two NCP facti...

Mumbai: Sunetra Ajit Pawar, affectionately called Vahini, is poised to take oath as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, succeeding her late husband Ajit Pawar, who tragically died in a plane crash near Baramati on 28 January 2026. She will become the first woman Deputy CM of the state, marking a new chapter in Maharashtra politics. Political JourneySunetra Pawar entered politics in 2024, contesting the Baramati Lok Sabha seat against her sister-in-law, Supriya Sule, but lost by over 1.5 lakh votes. Later, on 18 June 2024, she was unopposedly elected to the Rajya Sabha. Following Ajit Pawar’s demise, she is expected to contest the Baramati Assembly seat in the upcoming bypolls. Wealth and AssetsAccording to her affidavit submitted in 2024, Sunetra Pawar’s net worth exceeds that of Aj...