Sunetra Pawar to be Maharashtra's First Woman Deputy CM Today

• Sunetra Pawar, wife of the late NCP chief Ajit Pawar, is set to be sworn in as Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister today at approximately 5 pm.
• She will be the first woman Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, filling the role left vacant after her husband's death.
• Sunetra Pawar, a Rajya Sabha member, is expected to be elected as the leader of the NCP legislature party before taking the oath.
• The appointment aims to guide the party ahead of the Pune Zilla Parishad elections, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis having no objections.
• The development also fuels speculation about the merger of NCP factions, a move many consider Ajit Pawar's "last wish".

Why It Matters: Sunetra Pawar is poised to become Maharashtra's first woman Deputy CM, following her husband Ajit Pawar's demise.