<p>Mumbai: In a historic day for Maharashtra, NCP’s Sunetra Pawar was on Saturday appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister - the first woman to occupy the coveted post since the formation of the state 66 years ago. </p><p>Sunetra Pawar (62) was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat at the Lok Bhavan in Mumbai. </p><p>The swearing-in took place in a simple formal ceremony just three days after her husband NCP President and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash. </p><p>It was an emotional moment for many as slogans of ‘Ajit Dada amar rahe…Ajit Dada amar rahe’ rent the air as she walked to the podium for the swearing in ceremony. </p><p>At the swearing in ceremony, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who heads the BJP-led Maha Yuti government and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who is the Shiv Sena chief leader, their cabinet colleagues were present.</p><p>Ajit Pawar (66) had been a six-time and the state’s longest-serving deputy chief minister, a post he occupied for close to nine years. </p><p>Sunetra Pawar is expected to take charge at Mantralaya, the state secretariat, on Monday.</p><p><strong>Fadnavis keeps Finance, Planning with him</strong></p><p>At the time of death, Ajit Pawar held multiple portfolios including Finance, Planning, State Excise Duty, Sports and Youth Affairs, Minorities Development and Aukaf. Besides, he was the guardian minister of Pune and Beed districts. </p><p>However, Sunetra Pawar has been allocated the portfolios State Excise Duty, Sports and Youth Affairs, Minorities Development and Aukaf. </p>.Sunetra Pawar elected NCP legislative party leader, to be sworn in as Maharashtra Deputy CM .<p>As of now, Fadnavis will be incharge of Finance and Planning ministries in the wake of the impending tabling of State Budget in the Maharashtra Legislature on 6 March. </p><p><strong>Will seek election from Baramati</strong> </p><p>During the swearing-in, she was neither a member of the Legislative Assembly nor Legislative Council. </p><p>In six months, she will have to become a member of either of the Houses.</p><p>In most likelihood, she will be fielded from Baramati during the bye-elections necessitated by her husband’s death. </p><p>She would resign as Rajya Sabha member.</p><p>According to sources, one of her sons - Parth or Jay — will be sent to Rajya Sabha. </p><p>Before the swearing in ceremony, the NCP legislature party met at the Vidhan Bhavan complex in Mumbai and unanimously elected her their leader. </p><p>The meeting was presided over by NCP working president Praful Patel and the proceedings were conducted by NCP state president Sunil Tatkare.</p><p>Veteran NCP leader and former Legislative Assembly speaker Dilip Walse-Patil moved a resolution proposing her name which was seconded by veteran leader and state food, civil supplies and consumer protection minister Chhagan Bhujbal. </p><p><strong>Sunetra should be NCP president: Party leaders</strong></p><p>Hours after Sunetra Pawar was sworn in as deputy chief minister, a section of senior leaders of the NCP demanded that she should be appointed the national president of the party. </p><p>“Ajit Dada is no more…he was the legislature party leader, deputy chief ministers and the NCP national president…it is our wish that Sunetra Vahini should take over all the three responsibilities,” said Majalgaon MLA Prakash Solanke, who was a close aide of Ajit Pawar. Similar demands were made by several other leaders. </p>
<p>Mumbai: In a historic day for Maharashtra, NCP’s Sunetra Pawar was on Saturday appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister - the first woman to occupy the coveted post since the formation of the state 66 years ago. </p><p>Sunetra Pawar (62) was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat at the Lok Bhavan in Mumbai. </p><p>The swearing-in took place in a simple formal ceremony just three days after her husband NCP President and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash. </p><p>It was an emotional moment for many as slogans of ‘Ajit Dada amar rahe…Ajit Dada amar rahe’ rent the air as she walked to the podium for the swearing in ceremony. </p><p>At the swearing in ceremony, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who heads the BJP-led Maha Yuti government and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who is the Shiv Sena chief leader, their cabinet colleagues were present.</p><p>Ajit Pawar (66) had been a six-time and the state’s longest-serving deputy chief minister, a post he occupied for close to nine years. </p><p>Sunetra Pawar is expected to take charge at Mantralaya, the state secretariat, on Monday.</p><p><strong>Fadnavis keeps Finance, Planning with him</strong></p><p>At the time of death, Ajit Pawar held multiple portfolios including Finance, Planning, State Excise Duty, Sports and Youth Affairs, Minorities Development and Aukaf. Besides, he was the guardian minister of Pune and Beed districts. </p><p>However, Sunetra Pawar has been allocated the portfolios State Excise Duty, Sports and Youth Affairs, Minorities Development and Aukaf. </p>.Sunetra Pawar elected NCP legislative party leader, to be sworn in as Maharashtra Deputy CM .<p>As of now, Fadnavis will be incharge of Finance and Planning ministries in the wake of the impending tabling of State Budget in the Maharashtra Legislature on 6 March. </p><p><strong>Will seek election from Baramati</strong> </p><p>During the swearing-in, she was neither a member of the Legislative Assembly nor Legislative Council. </p><p>In six months, she will have to become a member of either of the Houses.</p><p>In most likelihood, she will be fielded from Baramati during the bye-elections necessitated by her husband’s death. </p><p>She would resign as Rajya Sabha member.</p><p>According to sources, one of her sons - Parth or Jay — will be sent to Rajya Sabha. </p><p>Before the swearing in ceremony, the NCP legislature party met at the Vidhan Bhavan complex in Mumbai and unanimously elected her their leader. </p><p>The meeting was presided over by NCP working president Praful Patel and the proceedings were conducted by NCP state president Sunil Tatkare.</p><p>Veteran NCP leader and former Legislative Assembly speaker Dilip Walse-Patil moved a resolution proposing her name which was seconded by veteran leader and state food, civil supplies and consumer protection minister Chhagan Bhujbal. </p><p><strong>Sunetra should be NCP president: Party leaders</strong></p><p>Hours after Sunetra Pawar was sworn in as deputy chief minister, a section of senior leaders of the NCP demanded that she should be appointed the national president of the party. </p><p>“Ajit Dada is no more…he was the legislature party leader, deputy chief ministers and the NCP national president…it is our wish that Sunetra Vahini should take over all the three responsibilities,” said Majalgaon MLA Prakash Solanke, who was a close aide of Ajit Pawar. Similar demands were made by several other leaders. </p>