Sunetra Pawar to Become Maharashtra First Woman Deputy Chief Minister

Sunetra Pawar to Become Maharashtra First Woman Deputy Chief Minister

Why in News? 

Sunetra Pawar is set to be sworn in as Maharashtra’s first woman Deputy Chief Minister on January 31, 2026, succeeding her late husband Ajit Pawar after his tragic plane crash. As a Rajya Sabha MP, her appointment marks a historic milestone in the state’s political history.

Who is Sunetra Pawar?

• Early Life: Sunetra Ajit Pawar was born to Bajirao Patil in Ter, Osmanabad district, Maharashtra, into a family with both political and agricultural roots. She is the sister of Padamsinh Patil, a senior politician and former state minister. These family ties have shaped her early exposure to public life and community engagement.
• Personal Life: Sunetra Pawar is the wife of the late Ajit Pawar, a six‑time Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) — allied with the Mahayuti government. They have two sons, Jay Pawar and Parth Pawar. Parth has pursued his own political ambitions, contesting elections previously, while Jay is engaged in business and local outreach efforts.
• Contributions: In 2010, she founded the Environmental Forum of India (EFOI), an NGO focused on sustainable development, organic farming, eco‑village models, and community conservation programs. Her environmental advocacy has earned recognition, including awards like the Green Warrior Award for her grassroots work on biodiversity.
  • She also served as the Chairperson of Baramati Hi‑Tech Textile Park Ltd., a key industrial initiative under the central government’s scheme for integrated textile parks.
  • She is a trustee of Vidya Pratishthan, an educational trust founded by Sharad Pawar, which provides quality education to more than 25,000 students across rural Maharashtra. 
  • Since 2017, she has also been a member of the Senate at Savitribai Phule Pune University, contributing to governance and policy deliberations in higher education.
  • She has been associated with international dialogues as a think tank member of the World Entrepreneurship Forum (France) since 2011, where she engaged with global leaders on sustainability, entrepreneurship, and social innovation.
• Political Journey: Sunetra Pawar’s formal entry into electoral politics occurred in 2024. She was nominated by the NCP to contest the Baramati Lok Sabha seat in the 2024 Indian general elections against her sister‑in‑law, Supriya Sule (daughter of NCP founder Sharad Pawar). In that election, Sunetra was defeated by a margin of approximately 1.58 lakh votes.
  • Shortly thereafter, she was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha in June 2024, representing Maharashtra. This elevated her to the national legislative stage and marked a significant step in her political career.
• Appointment as Deputy CM: Following the tragic death of Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on January 28, 2026, the NCP and Maharashtra coalition moved to ensure leadership continuity. Sunetra Pawar is now set to be sworn in as Maharashtra’s first woman Deputy Chief Minister on January 31, 2026. This appointment underscores broader trends in dynastic politics and gender representation in Indian federal politics.

Constitutional Provisions and the Role of the Deputy Chief Minister in India

• • Constitutional Basis: The post of Deputy Chief Minister (Deputy CM) is not mentioned in the Indian Constitution and there is no specific constitutional provision that creates or defines this office. Articles such as Article 163(1) establish a Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister (CM) to aid and advise the Governor, and Article 164(1) describes the appointment process for Ministers. Neither Article explicitly recognises or mandates a Deputy CM, meaning the position exists by political convention rather than constitutional sanction.

• Historical Context: The concept of the Deputy CM evolved from the role of the Deputy Prime Minister, first held by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in 1947. In states, the first person to hold the post of Deputy CM post-Independence was Anugrah Narayan Sinha in Bihar. Since then, it has become a common state. 

• Supreme Court’s Interpretation: The Supreme Court of India has upheld the practice of appointing Deputy Chief Ministers, dismissing petitions that challenged the role as unconstitutional. The Court emphasised that a Deputy Chief Minister is ‘first and foremost a minister’ — meaning they are part of the Council of Ministers and occupy the same constitutional status as any other minister. Therefore, their appointment does not contravene Article 14 (Right to Equality) or the core constitutional structure.
• Appointment and Tenure: The appointment of a Deputy CM is carried out through political processes. The Chief Minister recommends the appointment, and the Governor formally appoints the individual, just as with other ministers in the state cabinet. The tenure of a Deputy CM is co‑terminous with the state government’s confidence in the legislature; there is no fixed term specified beyond general ministerial tenure and the confidence of the assembly. A Deputy CM can be removed or reshuffled at the discretion of the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister can appoint more than one Deputy CM.
• Powers and Responsibilities: A Deputy Chief Minister does not possess any distinct powers. The post is considered to be the second highest-ranking executive officer of the State COMs.
  • Portfolio Management: They are typically assigned major cabinet portfolios such as Finance, Home, or Public Works, which provide them with substantive administrative influence.
  • Coalition Stability: The post is often used to accommodate senior leaders from alliance parties or powerful internal factions to prevent government collapse or dissent.
  • Administrative Bridge: A Deputy CM serves as a liaison between the Chief Minister and other cabinet ministers or coalition partners, facilitating smoother coordination.
  • Acting in Absence: In the CM’s absence, they may perform certain ceremonial functions or preside over cabinet meetings, though they lack the constitutional authority to issue independent orders without the CM’s consent. 
• Pay and Perks: Financially and legally, their salary, perks, and privileges are exactly equal to those of any other Cabinet Minister in the state. They do not possess any independent financial powers and must seek the Chief Minister’s approval for expenditures beyond their specific department’s budget. 

Women’s Political Representation in India

• Parliamentary Representation: Women’s representation in the Indian Parliament has grown since independence but remains far below gender parity. In the 18th Lok Sabha (2024), 77–74 women MPs were elected, constituting about 13.6 % of the total 543 seats, slightly lower than the previous 17th Lok Sabha’s share of around 14 %. In the Rajya Sabha, women constitute roughly 13–14 % of members. This steady increase from just 5 % in the first Lok Sabha (1952) reflects progress, but the numbers still fall short of representing India’s 50 % female population.
• Panchayati Raj Institutions: At the local governance level, women have achieved significant representation. The 73rd and 74th Amendments (1992) require at least 33 % reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and urban local bodies, which has led to women holding approximately 44–45 % of elected positions in local government across India. This high participation at the grassroots level signifies women’s political empowerment in rural and municipal governance.
• State Legislative Assemblies: Women’s representation in state legislative assemblies also remains low compared to local bodies. Data show that less than 10 % of MLAs nationwide are women, with only a few states exceeding 15 %. Even in states like Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, the percentage hovers between 12–21 %. Overall, no state has achieved true gender balance.
• Political Party Candidate Selection: The percentage of women candidates contesting general elections has increased slowly over time — rising from about 2.9 % in 1957 to nearly 10 % in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Major political parties such as the BJP, Congress, BJD, and TMC have fielded women candidates, with smaller parties sometimes having higher proportions. India’s global ranking for women’s parliamentary representation is low — around 143 out of 185 countries.
• Constitutional and Legal Framework: The Constitution of India guarantees equal opportunity in public employment under Article 16, which extends to eligibility in political participation. While women already benefit from mandated reservations in Panchayats and Municipalities, the historic Women’s Reservation Bill (Nari Shakti Vandan Act, 2023) — passed by Parliament — provides for 33 % reservation of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. Its implementation depends on the completion of the national Census and subsequent delimitation, likely before the 2029 general elections.