Hours after taking oath as Maharashtra’s first woman deputy chief minister (CM), Sunetra Pawar shared her first reaction on her X handle, dedicating her new role to continuing the work and ideals of her late husband, Ajit Pawar.

In her post, she said she would work for farmers, labourers, women, youth, and marginalised communities, following the principles of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Shahu Maharaj, Jyotiba Phule, and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. She acknowledged the grief caused by Ajit Pawar’s sudden death, describing it as “a mountain of sorrow”, but said the people’s support gives her strength to continue his work.

“आदरणीय अजितदादांनी आयुष्यभर शेतकरी, कष्टकरी, महिला, युवक आणि वंचित घटकांसाठी जगण्याचा मंत्र दिला. आज त्यांच्या विचारांचा वारसा पुढे नेत ‘शिव-शाहू-फुले-आंबेडकर’ यांच्या विचारांवर निष्ठा ठेवून कर्तव्य भावनेने उपमुख्यमंत्री पदाची जबाबदारी स्वीकारताना मन अक्षरशः भरून येत आहे.… pic.twitter.com/Z4vHP0BzkF

— Sunetra Ajit Pawar (@SunetraA_Pawar) January 31, 2026

Sunetra Pawar wrote that she would strive to realise “the just, equality-based, and developed Maharashtra” envisioned by her husband, and pledged to carry forward his ideals with honesty and dedication.

CM Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde attend Sunetra Pawar`s oath-taking ceremony

She took oath at Lok Bhavan, Mumbai, administered by Governor Acharya Devvrat, in the presence of CM Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, and other ministers and senior leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash near Baramati on Wednesday.

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