Sunetra Pawar is Maharashtra's first woman Deputy Chief Minister, gets three major portfolios

MUMBAI: Sunetra Pawar, widow of late NCP leader Ajit Pawar, took oath as the first woman Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Governor Acharya Devvrat administered the oath. Sunetra Pawar takes over as Deputy Chief Minister following the unexpected and tragic death of Ajith Pawar in a private plane crash in Baramati. Sunetra is currently a Rajya Sabha MP. The NCP's legislature party meeting held today elected Sunetra unopposed as the Deputy CM candidate. Senior leader Chhagan Bhujbal proposed Sunetra's name, while other leaders supported this proposal. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and others attended the oath-taking ceremony.

Sunetra will also get three major portfolios, including excise, sports, minoritiy department.

Meanwhile, Sunetra Pawar will resign from her Rajya Sabha membership after becoming the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. The party has also made it clear that Sunetra will contest the by-election to the Baramati assembly seat. It is reported that Ajit Pawar's son, Parth Pawar, will be considered for the Rajya Sabha MP post. There are also indications that senior leader Praful Patel will become the NCP president. It is also reported that a large section within the party is demanding that Sunetra Pawar be made the national president.