From Social Work to Power Politics: Sunetra Pawar Emerges as a Key Face of NCP’s Future Leadership in Maharashtra
With growing signals from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leadership that Sunetra Pawar is being positioned to step into a major leadership role following the passing of her husband, Ajit Pawar, the 63-year-old Rajya Sabha MP is now being seen as a strong contender to become Maharashtra’s first woman Deputy Chief Minister.
Though she has been part of the influential Pawar family for more than forty years, Sunetra largely remained in the background of politics until the past few years.
Born in 1963 in Osmanabad, now known as Dharashiv, Sunetra comes from a politically active Maratha family.
Public life surrounded her from an early age. Her father, Bajirao Patil, was a respected local leader, and her brother, Padamsinh Bajirao Patil, emerged as a powerful political figure in the district during the 1980s.
Long before her marriage into the Pawar household, she was already connected to one of Maharashtra’s strong political networks.
She completed her Bachelor of Commerce degree from S B Arts and Commerce College in Aurangabad, now Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, in 1983.
In December 1985, her brother arranged her marriage to Ajit Pawar, whom she had met earlier that year.
For decades, Sunetra chose to focus on social development rather than electoral politics. Her work in Baramati gained recognition, especially in Kathewadi, the Pawar family’s ancestral village.
Disturbed by poor sanitation and open defecation, she launched a cleanliness campaign, personally leading efforts and motivating villagers to build toilets.
Her initiative transformed the village, which earned the Centre’s “Nirmal Gram” status in 2006.
Over time, Kathewadi evolved into a model eco-friendly village with solar-powered streetlights, biogas plants, waste management systems and organic farming practices.
It received several awards, including the Sant Gadgebaba Swachhata Abhiyan honour. Progressive steps such as including mothers’ names in land records and strengthening women’s self-help groups were also introduced.
Sunetra also played a key role in industrial development. In 2008, she helped establish the Baramati Hi-Tech Textile Park, spread across 65 acres.
Approved under the central government’s Scheme for Integrated Textile Parks, the project now employs over 15,000 people, most of them women, across weaving, printing and garment units. She has served as the chairperson of the project.
Her formal political journey began during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when Ajit Pawar fielded her as the NCP candidate from Baramati with the support of the BJP-led NDA.
She contested against her sister-in-law, Supriya Sule, daughter of NCP founder Sharad Pawar. The contest symbolised the deep rift within the Pawar family and the party.
Sunetra lost the election, but soon after, she was nominated to the Rajya Sabha, marking her official entry into national politics.
Since taking the oath in June 2024, she has maintained an attendance rate of around 69% in the Upper House and participated in four parliamentary debates — higher than the national average of 58%.
While she has generally stayed away from controversy, some issues linked to her family have drawn attention over the years.
In 2009, her brother was named the main accused in the 2006 murder of Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar and his driver near Navi Mumbai.
The CBI charged him with murder and conspiracy, and the case remains under trial.
Sunetra’s name also surfaced during early investigations into the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank case because of her association with firms involved in sugar mill transactions.
In 2021, the Enforcement Directorate attached assets linked to companies connected to Ajit and Sunetra Pawar, though neither of them was named in the chargesheet.
Later, in April 2024, Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing cleared her of any wrongdoing, stating no criminal offence was found in the loan approvals or sugar mill deals.
Known to be calm and soft-spoken, Sunetra Pawar does not yet have deep political experience.
If she rises to a top leadership position in the NCP, she will face the challenge of managing senior leaders who have spent years in politics and government.
If the two rival factions of the NCP reunite, Sharad Pawar is expected to play a guiding role in the transition.
Otherwise, Sunetra may rely heavily on her sons, Parth and Jay, who are still building their political careers, while balancing party leaders who have often shifted alliances to safeguard their own influence.
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