Who Will Be The Next Deputy Chief Minister Of Maharashtra After Ajit Pawar’s Death ?
Who Will Be The Next Deputy Chief Minister Of Maharashtra After Ajit Pawar’s Death ?
Mumbai, January 30, 2026: The sudden demise of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has left the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) facing two crucial decisions — appointing a new deputy chief minister and identifying a successor for the finance portfolio.
Formal discussions within the NCP are expected to begin after the three-day state mourning period ends on Saturday. Ajit Pawar, who was serving as both deputy chief minister and finance minister in the BJP-led Mahayuti government, died in a plane crash in Baramati on Wednesday.
The selection of a new deputy chief minister will not be an internal party decision alone. The nominee will need approval from the BJP, the senior alliance partner. Once the NCP finalises its choice, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is expected to consult the BJP’s central leadership before making the appointment official.
Sources said the finance portfolio is unlikely to be reassigned immediately. With the budget session approaching, Fadnavis is expected to retain charge of the finance department for now and present the state budget himself.
Within the NCP, names being discussed include Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar, senior ministers Chhagan Bhujbal and Hasan Mushrif. Former finance minister Dilip Walse Patil is reportedly not being considered due to health concerns. Party insiders noted that political equations and acceptability within the alliance will play a key role in the final decision.
Meanwhile, preparations for the budget session, scheduled to begin on February 23, are behind schedule due to recent local body elections. Given the tight timeline, appointing a new finance minister before the budget is seen as impractical.
The state mourning period has also led to the postponement of elections to 12 zilla parishads and 125 panchayat samitis. Polling will now be held on February 7, with counting scheduled for February 9, officials confirmed.
