Sunetra Pawar on Tuesday formally assumed office as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, 13 days after her husband Ajit Pawar’s sudden death in a plane crash in Baramati. She was joined by her elder son Parth Pawar and NCP MP Praful Patel. During the day, she signed official documents and participated in a pre-Cabinet meeting of the NCP.
Ajit Pawar was killed on the morning of January 28 when the aircraft he was travelling in from Mumbai to Baramati crashed near the landing airstrip. Five people, including both pilots, lost their lives in the accident.
Following his death, Sunetra Pawar was chosen as the NCP’s legislative party leader and was sworn in as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister on January 31.
Before taking formal charge, Sunetra Pawar visited ‘Devgiri’, the official residence Ajit Pawar had occupied during his tenure as Deputy Chief Minister. She then offered prayers at the Siddhivinayak temple and proceeded to Chaitya Bhoomi, where she paid tribute to Dr B R Ambedkar. Afterward, she went to the NCP party office to visit her late husband’s cabin.
Sunetra Pawar has been assigned the portfolios of excise, sports and youth welfare, minority development, and the Aukaf ministries. The finance department, previously held by Ajit Pawar, will remain with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
