Born Into a Political Family but Kept Distance; Now Sunetra Pawar Set to Become Maharashtra’s Deputy CM

Mumbai: Sunetra Pawar is set to take the oath as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister today at 5 PM, succeeding her late husband Ajit Pawar. Before the ceremony, she will formally be elected as the leader of the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) legislative party. Currently, Sunetra Pawar is a Rajya Sabha MP and the widow of the late Ajit Pawar.

A New Political Journey
Following her husband’s sudden demise, Sunetra Pawar is beginning a new chapter in active politics. In Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar’s supporters affectionately called him “Dada”, while party workers referred to Sunetra Pawar as “Vahini” (sister-in-law). Until 2023, she remained largely away from active politics, though she was actively involved in social and community work. In 2024, she contested the Baramati Lok Sabha seat for the first time but lost. With the Deputy CM position, she will officially become a full-time politician, even though she already serves as a Rajya Sabha MP.

Political Roots in Her Family
Sunetra Pawar’s natal family was also politically active. Before marrying Ajit Pawar in 1985, she was Sunetra Patil. Her father, Bajirao Patil, was an influential local leader, and her brother also held several political positions. Despite these roots, she stayed away from politics after marriage and focused on her family. Sunetra and Ajit Pawar have two sons, Parth and Jai Pawar. Behind the scenes, she was considered one of Ajit Pawar’s key advisors, particularly after he split from Sharad Pawar’s faction in 2023 and took control of the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction).

Early Political Engagements and Age
Sunetra Pawar first entered active politics during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, contesting from Baramati against her sister-in-law Supriya Sule. She lost by over 150,000 votes. Shortly thereafter, her husband facilitated her election to the Rajya Sabha, bypassing several contenders. Born in October 1963, she is 62 years old and now faces the challenge of managing the party following her husband’s untimely demise.

Senior NCP leader and Cabinet Minister Chhagan Bhujbal stated, “Most party members feel that the Deputy CM responsibility should go to Sunetra Pawar. I don’t find this demand unreasonable. At present, she is the only one suitable to fill this post. A legislative party meeting has been convened primarily to elect the leader of the party.”

Education and Social Work
According to her affidavit in the 2024 elections, Sunetra Pawar completed her B.Com from SB College, Aurangabad. After her marriage in 1985, she led major industrial initiatives, including the Baramati High-Tech Textile Park. She also serves as a trustee of the Vidya Pratishthan educational group, which educates over 25,000 students in Baramati. In 2010, she founded the Environmental Forum of India, which transformed Ketwadi village into the country’s first “eco-village”.

With her oath as Deputy Chief Minister today, Sunetra Pawar is set to step firmly into the political spotlight, taking on both governance and party leadership responsibilities in Maharashtra.