Nationalist Congress Party leader Sunetra Pawar on Tuesday took charge as Maharshtra's deputy chief minister, a fortnight after her husband Ajit Pawar died in an air crash.
Sunetra Pawar has been allocated the portfolios of state excise duty, sports and youth affairs and minorities development and auqaf, which her late husband handled as deputy CM. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will handle the finance portfolio, previously assigned to Ajit Pawar.
Earlier in the day, Pawar visited the Siddhivinayak temple in Prabhadevi, central Mumbai, and offered prayers ahead of assuming office.
Her elder son Parth Ajit Pawar, NCP MPs Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare, Maharashtra Women's Commission Chairperson Rupali Chakankar, Siddhivinayak Temple Trust Chairman Sadanand Saravankar and others were present at the shrine.
Pawar also paid tribute to Dr B R Ambedkar at Chaityabhoomi.
Photographs curated and Feature Presentation by Manisha Kotian/Rediff