Maharashtra Dy CM Sunetra Pawar pays tribute to YB Chavan at Pritisangam

Maharashtra`s newly appointed Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Sunetra Pawar visited Karad in Satara district on Monday and paid tributes at the memorial of the state`s first chief minister Yashwantrao Chavan.

This marks her first official tour since assuming office on Saturday. After reaching Karad from Baramati (in Pune district) in the morning, Sunetra Pawar paid floral tributes at `Pritisangam`, the memorial of Yashwantrao Balwantrao Chavan, whom NCP founder Sharad Pawar regards as his mentor.

Pawar family’s long association with Chavan’s legacy

Her late husband, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, also frequently invoked Chavan and his ideologies.

Several dignitaries were present on the occasion, including Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Makarand Patil, State Women’s Commission Chairperson Rupali Chakankar, MPs Sunil Tatkare and Nitin Patil, former MP Srinivas Patil, former MLA Balasaheb Patil, District Collector Santosh Patil, Superintendent of Police Tushar Doshi, Karad Municipal Council President Rajendrasingh Yadav, and office-bearers of various organisations.

Political observers noted that the visit continues the long-standing association of the Pawar family with Yashwantrao Chavan’s legacy. The late former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had frequently visited Pritisangam and often cited Chavan’s ideology as a guiding force behind his public life. Those present recalled his close emotional and ideological bond with the memorial.

Sunetra Pawar to visit Phaltan later in the day

Later in the day, Sunetra Pawar is slated to visit Phaltan in Satara district to meet the family of Ajit Pawar`s Personal Security Officer Vidip Jadhav, who was killed along with him in the air crash in Baramati last week.

Earlier, Rohit Pawar had visited the family and announced support for the education of Jadhav’s children.

Ajit Pawar and four others died in the plane crash on January 28.

State’s first woman Deputy CM

Sunetra Pawar became the state`s first woman deputy CM on January 31.

Speaking after assuming office, Sunetra Pawar said Ajit Pawar had dedicated his life to farmers, labourers, women, youth and marginalised sections, and that she would carry forward his vision with commitment and integrity.

She added that while his untimely demise was a personal loss, the strength derived from public service and the people of Maharashtra would guide her efforts towards building a just, equitable and developed state.