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January 30, 2026 : Mumbai : The Nationalist Congress Party’s legislative wing in Maharashtra is set to meet in Mumbai on January 31, a day that could see Sunetra Pawar emerge as the new leader of the party in the state legislature and take oath as deputy chief minister, following the death of her husband and senior leader Ajit Pawar.
Party leaders said the meeting will be held at the NCP office in Vidhan Bhavan, where legislators are expected to formally endorse Sunetra Pawar as their leader. Once the decision is taken, her swearing-in as deputy chief minister could take place the same day, subject to procedural clearances and party consent.
Sunetra Pawar is currently a Rajya Sabha member and does not belong to either House of the Maharashtra legislature. However, party sources indicated that this is not being seen as a hurdle at this stage, given the extraordinary circumstances following Ajit Pawar’s sudden demise. The Baramati assembly seat in Pune district has fallen vacant after his death, adding to the political churn within the party.
Senior minister Chhagan Bhujbal said there is broad support within the party for Sunetra Pawar to assume the leadership role. He added that several leaders are in favour of her becoming deputy chief minister, but the final decision will rest with the legislature party meeting. The leadership is also factoring in the customary mourning period before formalising the move.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has conveyed that he has no objection if the swearing-in takes place on Saturday itself, provided the party takes a clear decision. According to party insiders, all NCP legislators have been asked to remain present in Mumbai to ensure unanimity and avoid any uncertainty.
With Ajit Pawar’s death, the NCP’s strength in the 288-member Maharashtra assembly has come down to 40. The immediate focus, party leaders said, is to fill the vacant post of legislature party leader and ensure continuity in governance during a sensitive period.
The developments mark a significant moment for Maharashtra politics, as the state navigates both grief and transition, with the ruling alliance aiming to maintain stability while responding to an unprecedented loss in its leadership.
