Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar has been named the Guardian Minister for Pune and Beed districts. This appointment was confirmed through an official government resolution by the General Administration Department. Sunetra Pawar took over this role following the tragic passing of her late husband, Ajit Pawar, who previously held the position.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has now assumed the departments of excise, sports and youth welfare, and minority welfare, previously managed by Ajit Pawar. The upcoming Budget Session, starting on February 23, will see Fadnavis presenting the annual budget for 2026-27. The swearing-in ceremony for Sunetra Pawar took place four days after Ajit Pawar’s demise, with some expressing criticism over the timing while others supported the decision.
NCP Working President Praful Patel clarified that Sunetra Pawar’s oath-taking on the fourth day was in line with the completion of post-death rituals by the family. There have been calls from party legislators and cell presidents for Sunetra Pawar to assume the role of National President of the NCP. Sunetra Pawar’s responsibilities as Pune Guardian Minister include overseeing the completion of projects initiated by Ajit Pawar and proposing new ones in the District Planning Council.
Ajit Pawar had also served as the Guardian Minister for Beed after the resignation of Dhananjay Munde. During his tenure, Ajit Pawar focused on restoring law and order and driving various development projects in the region. Sunetra Pawar is now tasked with personally supervising the district administration’s projects in Beed to ensure their timely execution.
