Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said that the Mahayuti alliance would fully support whatever decision the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) takes regarding the vacant Deputy Chief Minister’s post, amid reports that Sunetra Pawar is set to be sworn in following the death of her husband, Ajit Pawar, in a plane crash at Baramati.
Speaking to reporters after meeting Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Fadnavis said the choice of Deputy Chief Minister rests entirely with the NCP and the Pawar family. He added that the BJP-led government and the Mahayuti alliance would stand by and back that decision without hesitation. Emphasising solidarity, he said the alliance remains firmly with Ajit Pawar’s family and the party during this difficult period.
Responding to questions on whether a formal proposal had already been made, Fadnavis said leaders of the NCP had met him twice to discuss possible options, but clarified that the final call would be taken by the party itself.
According to NCP sources, Sunetra Pawar, a Rajya Sabha MP and the widow of the late Ajit Pawar, has agreed to take on the role and is scheduled to take oath as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister on Saturday at 5 pm. Sources added that she is expected to continue handling the Excise and Sports portfolios in the state government.
The same sources said the Finance portfolio, which was earlier held by Ajit Pawar, will remain with Chief Minister Fadnavis for the time being, as the budget session is scheduled for March. The portfolio is likely to be handed over to the NCP at a later stage.
On the upcoming budget, Fadnavis said Ajit Pawar had already completed much of the groundwork as Finance Minister before his death. He said he would personally oversee the remaining formalities and that decisions on further steps would be taken in due course.
Fadnavis also said he discussed the outcome of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation elections with Gadkari, noting that the BJP had secured a clear majority. He added that the decision on the mayor’s post would be taken collectively by party leadership and local MLAs.
Ajit Pawar, 66, died on Wednesday morning when the chartered aircraft he was travelling in crashed while attempting to land at Baramati airport in Pune district. The plane went down near the runway threshold, killing all five people on board, including Pawar, his personal security officer, a flight attendant and two pilots.
His last rites were conducted with full state honours on Thursday at the Vidya Pratishthan ground in Baramati, where his sons performed the final rituals. Several senior leaders and dignitaries attended the funeral to pay their respects, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, NCP (SCP) chief Sharad Pawar, and actor Riteish Deshmukh.
