Sunetra Pawar To Take Oath As Maharashtra Deputy CM Today: How Can A Rajya Sabha MP Become Minister In State? Know Here

Four days after the untimely demise of Ajit Pawar in a plane crash, his wife and Rajya Sabha MP, Sunetra Pawar, is set to fill the political void he left behind by succeeding him as the deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

Earlier today, she met NCP national working president Praful Patel and state president Sunil Tatkare. She is poised to be elected as the legislative party leader later in the day, after which she will take the oath of office at 5 PM today.

Her quest for the second top governance post comes parallel to another major development involving NCP. Party leader Jayant Patil and NCP (SCP) have claimed that the deceased leader was in an advanced stage of NCP merger talks with Sharad Pawar.

The senior Pawar himself has claimed that the formal announcement was due for February 12, the possibility of which seems less likely as he categorically denied being part of the Mahayuti government.

ALSO READ: Sharad Pawar Refutes Reports Of Joining Mahayuti After NCP Merger, Says 'No Information About Sunetra's Swearing-In'

Can Rajya Sabha MP become minister in state?

As Sunetra is a Rajya Sabha MP, the question is, can she become the deputy CM without being a member of the state assembly? If yes, then what are the provisions?

Irrespective of what post a person holds, they can become a minister in the state governments, including the Deputy CM, under the provisions of Article 164 (4) of the Constitution.

In order to take the oath as a minister in such cases, a person needs to be recommended by the state's chief minister. However, in such cases, a person needs to become a member of either the Legislative Assembly or the Legislative Council within a period of six months.

As Sunetra is an MP in the Rajya Sabha, she will also have to tender her resignation to the Chairman of the Upper House.

ALSO READ: Sunetra Pawar Likely To Take Oath As Maharashtra’s Deputy CM Today, Set To Be Elected NCP Legislative Party Leader

Sunetra arrives in Mumbai

She arrived in Mumbai early Saturday morning with her son, Parth. She will be elected as party leader in a meeting at 2 PM, after which she will be sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister at 5 PM.

NCP leaders Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare met with Sunetra Pawar ahead of the legislature party meeting. Parth later went to meet Sharad Pawar at his residence.