Sunetra Pawar sworn in as Maharashtra deputy chief minister

NEW DELHI: By electing Sunetra Pawar as its legislative party leader and subsequently elevating her as Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister—the first woman to hold the post—just three days after the untimely demise of Ajit Pawar, the NCP has swiftly filled two of the three positions held by the Maratha strongman at the time of his death. The third post is that of NCP chief, on which no decision has been made yet.However, the road ahead is unlikely to be easy for Sunetra Pawar, who is still grieving her husband’s loss while having to shoulder his responsibilities so soon after his death.Here are the challenges in front of Maharashtra’s new deputy CM:Zero administrative experience: Unlike Ajit Pawar, who was Maharashtra’s longest-serving deputy chief minister with six terms, Sunetra Pawar is a complete political newcomer. She now faces the challenge of stepping into a high-profile administrative role without prior experience in governance, making her transition into leadership all the more demanding.Managing party affairs: Despite coming from a prominent political family, Sunetra Pawar made her electoral debut only in 2024, contesting the Lok Sabha polls against her sister-in-law Supriya Sule, Ajit Pawar’s cousin. Sule retained the family stronghold of Baramati for the fourth consecutive term, after which Sunetra was nominated to Rajya Sabha. With her recent elevation, she will initially have to lean on party seniors for guidance as she navigates the complex responsibilities of leadership.Abrupt transition: Sunetra Pawar began the week as a Rajya Sabha MP, and by its end, she has stepped into the role of deputy chief minister, taking on all her late husband’s political responsibilities—an abrupt shift made even more challenging as she continues to come to terms with her loss.Acceptability among cadre: Ajit Pawar was a mass leader, as reflected in the chants of “Ajit dada amar rahe” during Sunetra Pawar’s swearing-in. Being his spouse made her the most obvious choice to succeed him. However, she will now have to establish her own acceptability among the NCP cadre and ensure she carries forward the legacy of the cadre’s “dada.”Cracks in the family?: The two NCP factions were reportedly set for a merger, with an announcement scheduled for February. They also contested the recent municipal corporation elections in their Pimpri-Chinchwad stronghold as allies, though unsuccessfully. Despite past divisions, the family has traditionally celebrated occasions together. Yet, NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar’s remark that he was not consulted about Sunetra Pawar’s elevation—and his daughter Supriya Sule’s decision to travel to Delhi instead of attending the swearing-in—suggests that tensions persist, adding another potential headache for Sunetra.