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As the NCP grapples with the loss of its most aggressive organiser, Sunetra Pawar represents the most direct dynastic link for husband Ajit Pawar’s supporters
Known affectionately across Maharashtra as ‘Vahini’ (sister-in-law), Sunetra Pawar remained a low-profile political spouse for over three decades. Image/ANI
The tragic death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash near Baramati on Wednesday has sent shockwaves through the state’s political landscape. As the leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction that broke away from his uncle Sharad Pawar in 2023, Ajit Pawar was the undisputed anchor of his party’s 41-strong MLA block. His sudden absence has created an immediate leadership vacuum, thrusting his wife and Rajya Sabha member, Sunetra Pawar, into the spotlight as a potential custodian of his political legacy.
From ‘Vahini’ to the Centre Stage
Known affectionately across Maharashtra as “Vahini” (sister-in-law), Sunetra Pawar remained a low-profile political spouse for over three decades. While she managed the social and organisational machinery in Baramati, her work was primarily through the Environmental Forum of India (EFOI), which she founded in 2010, and the Baramati Hi-Tech Textile Park, which employs thousands of rural women.
Her formal political transition occurred only in 2024, when she was fielded in a high-stakes Lok Sabha battle against her sister-in-law, Supriya Sule. Though she lost that contest, the campaign established her as a public figure in her own right. Shortly thereafter, she was elected to the Rajya Sabha in June 2024, representing the NCP. Since then, she has been a regular presence in Parliament, focusing on environmental conservation and rural development—issues that formed the core of her work as a social entrepreneur.
The Challenge of Succession
As the NCP grapples with the loss of its most aggressive organiser, Sunetra Pawar represents the most direct dynastic link for Ajit Pawar’s supporters. Unlike other senior leaders like Sunil Tatkare or Praful Patel, who hold significant organisational weight but lack a mass-based emotional connect, Sunetra carries the “Pawar” name into the family’s home turf of Baramati.
However, her path to leadership is fraught with complexity. While she is respected for her quiet resolve and social contributions, she lacks the raw administrative experience and “24-hour” work ethic that defined her late husband’s political style. Observers note that her sons, Parth and Jay Pawar, have yet to find their footing in frontline politics, further increasing the pressure on her to act as a bridge between the party cadre and the ruling Mahayuti alliance led by Devendra Fadnavis.
A Legacy at a Crossroads
The political stakes are compounded by the recent softening of ties between the two NCP factions. Before the crash, reports suggested an unofficial consensus was building to reunify the party under Ajit Pawar’s leadership, with Sharad Pawar potentially stepping into a mentor role. With Ajit’s passing, Sunetra Pawar must now navigate these delicate family and party dynamics.
Whether she emerges as a symbolic figurehead or takes a more active role in holding the 41 MLAs together remains to be seen. In a state where political loyalties are often tied to individual charisma, Sunetra Pawar’s ability to transform from a “Green Warrior” and Rajya Sabha lawmaker into a unifying force for the NCP will determine the future of her husband’s faction in a post-Ajit Pawar era.
January 28, 2026, 22:34 IST
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