Mumbai, Jan 31: Sunetra Pawar is set to be sworn in as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister on Saturday, making history as the first woman to hold the post in the state. The Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction) is moving swiftly to ensure continuity of leadership and uphold the legacy of the late Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, who tragically died in a plane crash.

The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to be held at Raj Bhavan at 5 pm. Earlier in the day, the MLAs of the Ajit Pawar faction are expected to meet, during which Sunetra Pawar is likely to be elected as the group leader, paving the way for her formal induction. The 40 NCP legislators are set to convene at Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai at 2 pm to finalize the election of their leader.

On Friday, senior leaders of the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), including National Working President Praful Patel, State President and MP Sunil Tatkare, ministers Chhagan Bhujbal and Hasan Mushrif, and former minister Dhananjay Munde, met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to discuss the party’s next steps. After the meeting, Patel said the decision on the Deputy Chief Minister’s post would be taken after consultations with party MLAs, senior leaders, and Sunetra Pawar herself.

Subsequently, Sunetra Pawar expressed her willingness to take on the role, receiving strong support from the majority of party MLAs. She is currently a Rajya Sabha MP and, as per constitutional provisions, will need to become a member of either the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly or the Legislative Council within six months.

The development comes days after the sudden demise of Ajit Pawar, 66, who died in a tragic plane crash near Baramati on Wednesday morning. He was travelling in a chartered Learjet that crashed while attempting to land at Baramati airport, killing Ajit Pawar, his personal security officer, a cabin crew member, and two pilots.