Sunetra Pawar Takes Charge as Maharashtra Deputy CM
Attends first cabinet meet 13 days after Ajit Pawar’s death
- Sunetra Pawar assumes duties at Mantralaya
- Offers prayers before taking charge
- Attends maiden cabinet meeting chaired by CM Fadnavis
- Vows to carry forward Ajit Pawar’s legacy
GG News Bureau
Mumbai, 10th Feb: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar on Tuesday assumed her ministerial duties at the state secretariat, 13 days after the death of her husband and former Deputy CM Ajit Pawar in a plane crash, and attended her maiden cabinet meeting.
She arrived in Mumbai from Pune earlier in the day and offered prayers at the Siddhivinayak Temple and at the memorial of B. R. Ambedkar at Chaityabhoomi in the Dadar area.
Accompanied by her elder son Parth Pawar, she visited the NCP office and met party MLAs and ministers before heading to Mantralaya. Senior Nationalist Congress Party leaders Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, Chhagan Bhujbal and Dhananjay Munde also accompanied her to the Deputy CM’s office.
Sunetra later attended her first cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
In a post on X, she said she felt a deep sense of trust, duty and sacrifice as she took up the new assignment. She said Ajit Pawar’s lifelong commitment to Maharashtra’s development would continue to guide her.
Sunetra Pawar had taken oath as the state’s first woman Deputy Chief Minister on December 31, three days after her husband was killed in the air crash in Pune district.
She has been allotted the portfolios of State Excise Duty, Sports and Youth Affairs, and Minorities Development and Auqaf, which were earlier held by Ajit Pawar, except the Finance department.
“I will move forward drawing strength from his way of working, his ability to take decisions and his close bond with the people,” she said, adding that completing his unfinished dreams and meeting the expectations of farmers, women, youth and common citizens would be her priority.
She said no one could replace Ajit Pawar, but she would make a sincere effort to preserve his legacy and build a stronger Maharashtra.
Meanwhile, her nephew and NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar said he felt both grief and pride as Sunetra Pawar assumed office. He said the void left by Ajit Pawar could never be filled but expressed confidence that she would work for the welfare of the common citizen.
Rohit Pawar also said that many party workers across the state expected Sunetra Pawar to soon assume the position of national president of the party, calling it an aspiration shared by the cadre.
