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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Sunetra Pawar has taken charge, but challenges remain

Mumbai: Days after taking oath as Maharashtra’s first woman Deputy CM, Sunetra Ajit Pawar was unanimously elected president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). This was another major responsibility on her shoulders just a month after her husband’s tragic death in the Baramati air crash. For decades, Sunetra, popular as ‘Vahini’ or just ‘Tai’, chose to be the silent force behind her husband. But she remained accessible, grounded and attentive to the people of Baramati. Sunetra quietly...

Sunetra Pawar has taken charge, but challenges remain

Mumbai: Days after taking oath as Maharashtra’s first woman Deputy CM, Sunetra Ajit Pawar was unanimously elected president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). This was another major responsibility on her shoulders just a month after her husband’s tragic death in the Baramati air crash. For decades, Sunetra, popular as ‘Vahini’ or just ‘Tai’, chose to be the silent force behind her husband. But she remained accessible, grounded and attentive to the people of Baramati. Sunetra quietly built institutions of sustainability, empowering rural youth, women and farmers, and addressed environmental concerns. Earning awards and accolades, she continued in a similar vein until the NCP suddenly split apart in July 2023 and Ajit Pawar fielded her in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls from Baramati. Her opponent was her sister-in-law and the Nationalist Congress Party (SP) Working President Supriya Sule, who easily snatched victory. Barely months later, Sunetra waltzed into the Rajya Sabha with a nudge from the BJP, signalling new political equations. Challenges ahead Sunetra Pawar faces multiple challenges within the party, government, politics and family. There’s a dreaded, but not fully identified, ‘chandal chaukdi’ (gang of four), referred to by all, that’s hyper-active after Ajit Pawar’s death. This can test her authority. Here, Sunetra will have to assert herself and make efforts to carve her independent niche in politics. The sympathy factor may soon evaporate. Another question is whether Sunetra will initiate a ‘merger’ of the two NCPs. This was said to be the ‘desire’ of Ajit Pawar. A close family friend and retired IPS officer, Vikram Bokey, described Sunetra as ‘a gem of a human being, extremely poised, cultured, and with a highly educated background’. “The state witnessed her suddenly blossom into a leader after Ajit Pawar’s tragic passing… She has rekindled hopes among the masses. The people view her as the ideal candidate for the top (CM) post,” Bokey told The Perfect Voice . Sunetra – A village girl who became deputy CM Born on 18 October 1963, Sunetra hails from an influential political family. Her step-brother, Dr Padamsinh Patil, straddled state and national politics with ease for decades. She completed her BA, married Ajit Pawar in 1985, but chose to prioritise family and motherhood and only much later (2024) marked her reluctant political entry to support her spouse. She is a trustee of Vidya Pratishthan, chairperson of Baramati Hi-Tech Textile Park, and a member of the World Entrepreneurship Forum, a French think-tank. She launched the Environmental Forum of India (2010).

Navy doc treat injured Pakistani crew

Mumbai: In a humanitarian gesture, the Indian Navy (IN) rendered lifesaving medical assistance to save the life of a Pakistani crewman on an Iranian fishing vessel in the Arabian Sea, officials said.


The operation took place on Friday/Saturday around 350 nautical miles in the high seas off Oman coast, with the help of the stealth frigate INS Trikand.


On April 4, the INS Trikand monitored a distress call from the Omani vessel 'Al Omeedi' seeking help for a crew member, who was seriously injured with multiple fractures and blood loss.


Further enquiry revealed that the distressed crewman was working on the vessel's engine when he sustained the grievous injuries and was transferred to another Iran-bound dhow, 'FV Abdul Rehman Hanzia', in the vicinity.

On getting the SOS, INS Trikand immediately altered her course to rush medical assistance to the injured crew.


The 'FV Abdul Rehman Hanzia' has a contingent of 11 Pakistanis and 5 Iranians manning the vessel.


The Indian warship's medical officer along with a team of Marine Commandos boarded the FV.


Ob board, the MO started the three hour long medical procedures, controlling the blood flow, suturing and splinting of the crew's injured fingers.

It was a timely response which prevented the patient's total loss of the injured fingers due to gangrene.


The IN stealth warship also provided crucial medical supplies, antibiotics to the FV to ensure the injured crew's wellbeing till the dhow reaches Iran.


The entire crew of the dhow expressed their gratitude to the IN for rendering assistance on time that helped saving their injured mate's life, said the IN officials.

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