In a major political development, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar is set to take charge as the National President of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on February 26.

The announcement was made by NCP Maharashtra president Sunil Tatkare, who confirmed that Sunetra Pawar will be formally elected during the party’s National Executive meeting scheduled for that day.

The decision was finalised at a meeting of senior leaders and MLAs from the faction led by the late Ajit Pawar, held in Mumbai. According to party sources, leaders unanimously agreed on Sunetra Pawar’s name for the top organisational post.

Tatkare stated that preparations are already underway to complete the formal process through the executive body in line with party procedures. He emphasised that there was complete consensus among leaders regarding her elevation, signalling unity within the party at a sensitive time.

The development follows the sudden demise of Ajit Pawar, who passed away in a chartered plane crash on January 28 while travelling from Mumbai to Baramati. The 66-year-old leader was serving as the NCP’s national president and was also Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister at the time of his death.

Ajit Pawar was the nephew of veteran politician and NCP founder Sharad Pawar and cousin of Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule. Over his long political career, he became one of Maharashtra’s most influential leaders and served as Deputy Chief Minister six times under different governments, including those led by Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde.

He is survived by Sunetra Pawar and their two sons, Jay and Parth Pawar.