Ajit Pawar’s Wife Sunetra May Contest for Deputy CM Post : Report

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is facing a leadership vacuum, with the party set to propose late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s wife, Sunetra Pawar, for the post of Maharashtra Deputy CM, according to reports. Sunetra Pawar is currently a Rajya Sabha member.

According to news agency PTI, senior NCP leader and Maharashtra FDA Minister Narhari Zirwal said on Thursday that public sentiment favours Sunetra Pawar’s induction into the state ministry.

Reports further suggest that senior NCP leaders Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal, Dhananjay Munde and Sunil Tatkare have held meetings with Sunetra Pawar as part of internal consultations. In all likelihood, she will contest from the seat vacated by Ajit Pawar, sources said.

The proposal reportedly includes inducting Sunetra Pawar as Deputy Chief Minister. NCP leaders are also expected to meet Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to discuss the proposal and the future course of action.

Sources added that Praful Patel, the party’s working president, may take the lead in steering the NCP during this transitional phase. They also claimed that Ajit Pawar had been in talks with NCP (SP) regarding a possible merger ahead of the municipal corporation elections.

Ajit Pawar and four others on board the aircraft were killed after it crashed barely 200 metres from the edge of the tabletop airstrip.