NCP leaders meet Devendra Fadnavis after Sunetra Pawar named party head

Senior leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday following the election of Sunetra Pawar as the new leader of the breakaway faction.

She was unanimously named the party leader days after her husband and earlier leader of the faction Ajit Pawar's sudden death in a plane crash in Pune.

Sunetra Pawar is scheduled to be sworn in as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister later today. With this, she will create history by becoming the first woman to hold the post in the state.


The leadership decision was taken at a meeting of NCP legislators held at Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai, where party leaders agreed that Sunetra Pawar should assume the mantle to ensure continuity and stability within the organisation.

Following the meeting, senior NCP figures including Working President Praful Patel and Maharashtra unit chief Sunil Tatkare met the Chief Minister to formally communicate the party’s decision and submit an official letter seeking the swearing-in.

"A letter about Sunetra Pawar's election as the legislature party leader will be handed over to CM Fadnavis," Patel said.

Known for her work in environmental conservation, sustainable development, and rural empowerment, Sunetra Pawar has also founded and led initiatives focused on biodiversity protection, water management, and drought mitigation. Party leaders said her selection reflects both public sentiment and a collective decision of NCP MLAs, MPs, and senior leaders in the aftermath of Ajit Pawar’s untimely death.