Sunetra Pawar Oath Ceremony Live updates: After deputy CM oath, Sunetra Pawar gets 3 portfolios, including state excise department

Sunetra Pawar Oath Ceremony Live: Rajya Sabha MP Sunetra Pawar, 62, became Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister, filling the shoes of her late husband, Ajit Pawar, who was killed in an air crash on Wednesday. Sunetra Pawar is the first woman to occupy the post in the state.Ahead of the swearing-in, the NCP elected Sunetra as the leader of its legislature party, a post left vacant following Ajit's demise. She then took oath as Maharashtra's deputy chief minister.The NCP's quick moves are seen as a pre-emptive move aimed at scotching speculation around the NCP’s leadership and the likely contenders to the post. Having taken oath as deputy CM, Sunetra will have to give up her MP seat and enter the Maharastra legislature within six months, either as an MLC or by contesting the Baramati bypoll, with the seat falling vacant with Ajit Pawar’s demise.“Sunetra Pawar will be deputy chief minister. There is consensus on this. There will be a meeting of the NCP legislature party and she will be elected to head it,” said food and civil supplies minister Chhagan Bhujbal of NCP.In the afternoon, Fadnavis was apprised of the choice by an NCP delegation and reportedly assented to it.