Amid reports that Sunetra Pawar, wife of late Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar, is set to take oath as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister on Saturday evening, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the decision rests entirely with the NCP and reiterated his government’s support for both the party and the Pawar family.
Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Fadnavis said, “Whatever decision is taken will be taken by the Nationalist Congress Party. We will stand by the decision taken by the NCP. Whether it is Ajit Pawar’s family or the NCP, we stand firmly with them with full strength, both as the government and as the BJP.”
Sunetra Pawar has reportedly agreed to accept the NCP’s offer for the Deputy Chief Minister’s post. If sworn in, she would become the first woman to hold the position in Maharashtra.
According to reports, the NCP has convened a legislative party meeting on Saturday at 11 am, followed by a meeting of its MLAs at Vidhan Bhavan at 2 pm to elect the party’s legislative leader. Sunetra Pawar is expected to be unanimously chosen, clearing the way for her induction into the state cabinet.
Earlier in the day, senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal met Chief Minister Fadnavis to discuss the proposed oath-taking ceremony and other formalities. Bhujbal said the Chief Minister had no objection to proceeding, while noting that customary considerations following a death were also being taken into account. He added that senior leaders Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel were providing inputs and a final decision was expected shortly.
Ajit Pawar, who was serving as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, reportedly died in a plane crash in Baramati on Wednesday along with four others, bringing the question of NCP leadership into sharp focus.
