NCP picks Sunetra to replace Ajit Pawar as Maharashtra Deputy CM

Mumbai: The NCP has finalised the name of Sunetra Pawar to be the new deputy chief minister of Maharashtra. According to NCP leaders, the legislative party meeting has been called on Saturday and will be held in Mumbai where MLAs and MLCs will vote for Sunetra, wife of late deputy CM Ajit Pawar, to be the legislative party leader. Once elected, the swearing-in ceremony would be held on the same day at 5pm.

In a day of rapidly moving developments, NCP leaders, including Praful Patel, state NCP president Sunil Tatkare, Chhagan Bhujbal and Dhananjay Munde on Friday met chief minister Devendra Fadnavis informing him that the party was going to propose the name of Sunetra Pawar as deputy CM in Ajit Pawar's place in the government.

This was the second meeting within a few hours as these leaders also met Fadnavis on Thursday night after meeting Sunetra. "We are all disturbed by the way Ajit Dada passed away, it was unsettling, but the show must go on... Someone has to be given responsibility, in the party and the government. We met CM Devendra Fadnavis and he was okay with our suggestion," said Bhujbal. The NCP leader also said that the MLAs and party cadres felt that the party should go with Sunetra Pawar as its leader. "If there is unanimity among party MLAs and MLCs which looks like there is, and along with us the cadres also want that Sunetra vahini should be the legislative party leader, then the decision would be conveyed to the CM," said Bhujbal.


While Sunetra Pawar will be occupying the deputy CM's post, the NCP has also been engaged in discussions with the CM seeking Ajit Pawar's portfolios remain with the NCP ministers. Ajit Pawar was handling the finance, state excise and sports portfolios. It is understood that Sunetra may not be given the finance portfolio for now as the state budget session is to begin in the next few days. According to government insiders, Fadnavis may be presenting the budget this year.