New Delhi, Jan 31 (NationPress) On Saturday, Shiv Sena (UBT) conveyed its heartfelt congratulations to Sunetra Pawar, a member of the Rajya Sabha, who is poised to take the oath as the first woman Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Sunetra is the spouse of the late Ajit Pawar, the former Deputy Chief Minister, who tragically passed away in a recent plane crash.

In a statement to IANS, Priyanka Chaturvedi, a Shiv Sena (UBT) MP, expressed her support for Sunetra, highlighting their collaborative work in the Rajya Sabha where she observed Sunetra's unwavering commitment and dedication.

“Sunetra Pawar has served alongside me in the Rajya Sabha, and I have witnessed her diligent efforts firsthand. I wish her the best and hope she embodies the dedication and commitment Ajit Pawar had towards Maharashtra, while striving to fulfill the aspirations he held for the state,” Chaturvedi remarked.

She refrained from commenting on the political intricacies following Ajit Pawar’s tragic death or the decisions made by his party.

“I prefer not to delve into the reasons behind any swift decisions or any potential pressure from the BJP,” she added.

Chaturvedi expressed her optimism that Sunetra would carry out her duties effectively, fostering the growth and development of Maharashtra with integrity and commitment.

Earlier that day, Sunetra Pawar was elected unanimously as the leader of the NCP Legislature Party. Her nomination was put forth by veteran party member Chhagan Bhujbal and supported by Dilip Patil and several other legislators.

The meeting was organized on the same day, after Sunetra Pawar, still grappling with the profound shock of her husband’s unexpected passing, agreed to assume the role of Legislature Party leader.

She is now preparing to take the oath as Maharashtra's first female Deputy Chief Minister this evening at Lok Bhavan.

Sunil Tatkare, the Maharashtra NCP chief, had previously sent a letter to all party legislators, including 40 from the state Assembly and nine from the state council, urging their presence at the legislative party meeting at Vidhan Bhavan.

On Friday morning, a high-level NCP delegation met with Devendra Fadnavis to discuss various matters, including the appointment of the Legislative Party leader and Deputy Chief Minister.

This delegation comprised party Working President Praful Patel, state unit chief Sunil Tatkare, ministers Chhagan Bhujbal, Hasan Mushrif, and former minister Dhananjay Munde. This development followed a noticeable leadership vacuum within both the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Mahayuti government.