Jay Pawar pitches Sunetra Pawar as Maharashtra CM face for 2029
Synopsis
For the first time, a family member has openly floated the idea of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar — the state's first woman Dy CM — as the NCP's Chief Ministerial face for 2029. Jay Pawar's remarks in Baramati signal the opening of a calculated succession narrative, even as alliance partners urge caution and the opposition calls the move futile within a BJP-led coalition.
Key Takeaways
Jay Pawar publicly projected Sunetra Pawar as the NCP's Chief Ministerial candidate for the 2029 Maharashtra Assembly elections on 7 May 2026 .
Sunetra Pawar was sworn in as Maharashtra's first woman Deputy Chief Minister in January 2026 and won the Baramati bypoll in May 2026 .
Jay Pawar has been holding meetings lasting over six hours in Baramati, seen as early groundwork for the 2029 electoral cycle .
BJP 's Pravin Darekar and Shiv Sena 's Bharat Gogawale offered cautious, non-committal responses.
Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant argued that CM posts are not available to BJP alliance partners, citing the examples of Nitish Kumar and Eknath Shinde .
Baramati, 7 May 2026 — Jay Pawar, son of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, on Thursday sparked political speculation by publicly projecting his mother, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, as the NCP's Chief Ministerial face for the 2029 Maharashtra Assembly elections. The remarks, made to reporters after a Jansamvad programme in Baramati, mark the first time a family member has openly floated the idea of Sunetra Pawar ascending to the state's top post.
What Jay Pawar Said
Speaking after the event, Jay Pawar invoked the unfulfilled aspirations of NCP workers who had once hoped to see Ajit Pawar as Chief Minister. "During recent discussions with colleagues, it was clear that the people of Baramati shared a collective dream of seeing 'Dada' as the Chief Minister. That dream remained unfulfilled due to his accidental passing. Now, Sunetra Kaki is working incredibly hard. I believe she will contest the 2029 Assembly elections from Baramati, and it is our hope that she ascends to the post of Chief Minister," he said.
Jay Pawar attributed the demand to grassroots sentiment, noting that following Sunetra Pawar's record-breaking by-election victory in the Baramati Assembly constituency, party workers were no longer viewing her merely as a local leader or Deputy Chief Minister, but as a potential future leader of Maharashtra. He clarified that while the party leadership would take the final call, the "overwhelming wish" among workers was to see "Vahini" — as Sunetra Pawar is affectionately called — lead the state in 2029.
Sunetra Pawar's Rising Political Stature
Sunetra Pawar was sworn in as Maharashtra's first woman Deputy Chief Minister in January 2026, a historic milestone that significantly elevated her national profile. She subsequently secured a commanding electoral mandate in the May 2026 Baramati bypoll, further consolidating her position within the NCP and the broader Mahayuti alliance. Political observers note that the "Sunetra for CM" narrative is being positioned as a strategic attempt to project a fresh and historic face for the NCP ahead of the next major electoral cycle.
Jay Pawar's Own Political Trajectory
On his own future, Jay Pawar reiterated that while many party workers were urging him to contest the 2029 Assembly elections from Baramati, he currently considered himself a dedicated party worker focused on organisational strengthening in the region. He has been holding marathon meetings in Baramati — some lasting more than six hours — to connect with local Zilla Parishad groups and office-bearers. Political analysts view this proactive outreach as early groundwork for the 2029 electoral cycle, aimed at ensuring that the NCP led by Ajit Pawar retains its stronghold in the Pawar family's traditional bastion.
Alliance Partners and Opposition React
Reactions from alliance partners were measured. BJP legislator Pravin Darekar said there was nothing wrong in Jay Pawar expressing party workers' sentiments, but cautioned that "everything ultimately depended on numbers." Shiv Sena minister Bharat Gogawale adopted a wait-and-watch stance, saying: "We will have to wait till 2029 to see how things take shape."
The opposition was sharper in its response. State Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said: "Children always harbour the desire to become big influencers. However, when you go along with the BJP, you do not get the Chief Minister's post. One should ask Nitish Kumar and Eknath Shinde. The BJP wants to establish absolute rule in the country. If one wants to create the possibility of getting the CM's post, then one will have to muster the courage to stand in opposition and fight against the BJP." NCP-SP legislator Jitendra Awhad said everyone had the right to dream, but noted that "the mandate ultimately comes from the people."
What Happens Next
With the 2029 Maharashtra Assembly elections still over three years away, Thursday's remarks are widely seen as the opening salvo in what promises to be a prolonged succession narrative within the NCP. The coming months will test whether the grassroots sentiment Jay Pawar described can be translated into a formal party position — and whether the Mahayuti alliance's internal arithmetic will accommodate the Pawar family's ambitions.
Point of View
Three years out. The timing is deliberate: Sunetra Pawar's political capital is at its peak, and projecting her now allows the NCP to build a 'historic first woman CM' narrative before rivals can frame the conversation. But Congress's invocation of Nitish Kumar and Eknath Shinde is not merely a jibe — it is a structural critique. Alliance junior partners in BJP-led coalitions have historically not secured the top post, regardless of electoral performance. Whether the Pawar family's ambitions survive the arithmetic of coalition politics remains the central question heading into 2029.
NationPress
9 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Jay Pawar project Sunetra Pawar as Maharashtra's CM face for 2029?
Jay Pawar cited strong grassroots sentiment among NCP workers who had previously hoped to see Ajit Pawar as Chief Minister. Following Sunetra Pawar's record-breaking Baramati bypoll victory and her swearing-in as Maharashtra's first woman Deputy Chief Minister, Jay Pawar said party workers now viewed her as a future leader of the state.
Who is Sunetra Pawar and what is her current political position?
Sunetra Pawar is the wife of NCP leader Ajit Pawar and currently serves as Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister — the first woman to hold that post in the state. She was sworn in as Dy CM in January 2026 and won the Baramati Assembly bypoll in May 2026 by a significant margin.
How did the Mahayuti alliance partners respond to Jay Pawar's remarks?
BJP legislator Pravin Darekar said there was nothing wrong with the sentiment but cautioned that numbers would decide everything. Shiv Sena minister Bharat Gogawale said the situation would only become clear by 2029, adopting a non-committal stance.
What did the opposition say about Sunetra Pawar becoming Chief Minister?
Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant argued that BJP alliance partners do not get the Chief Minister's post, citing Nitish Kumar and Eknath Shinde as examples. NCP-SP legislator Jitendra Awhad said everyone had the right to dream but that the mandate ultimately comes from the people.
Is Jay Pawar himself planning to contest the 2029 Maharashtra elections?
Jay Pawar said he currently considers himself a dedicated party worker focused on organisational strengthening in Baramati, even as many party members have urged him to contest the 2029 Assembly elections. His marathon six-hour meetings with local Zilla Parishad groups are being read by analysts as early electoral groundwork.
