Rajya Sabha member Sunetra Pawar was unanimously elected leader of the Nationalist Congress Party legislature wing in Maharashtra on Saturday. The decision came three days after the death of her husband and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash near Baramati. Senior leaders proposed her name at a meeting held at Ajit Pawar’s office in Mumbai. Sunetra Pawar is expected to take oath later in the day as Maharashtra’s first woman Deputy Chief Minister. She entered active politics in 2024, contested the Baramati Lok Sabha seat, and was later elected to the Rajya Sabha. The party said the move aims to ensure continuity during a period of transition. (PC: India Today)

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said the Mahayuti alliance will support any decision taken by the Nationalist Congress Party on the vacant Deputy Chief Minister post. “We will support whatever decision the NCP takes,” Fadnavis said. His statement comes ahead of Sunetra Pawar’s expected oath-taking as Deputy CM. She is the widow of late Ajit Pawar, who died in a plane crash. NCP sources said Sunetra Pawar may take oath on Saturday and continue holding key portfolios.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Friday said he was not consulted about Sunetra Pawar taking oath as Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister. “I have no information about it. Her party must have decided,” he said. Pawar added that he learnt about it only through newspapers. He also said talks on merging the two NCP factions have been paused after the death of Ajit Pawar. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “We will support whatever decision the NCP takes.” Sunetra Pawar is expected to take oath after a party meeting in Mumbai. (PC: PTI)

Sunetra Pawar, wife of late Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, will be sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister Saturday at 5 pm, sources confirm. She accepted the proposal and will hold Excise and Sports portfolios previously managed by her husband. The Finance portfolio temporarily remains with CM Devendra Fadnavis for the March budget session before transferring to NCP. Senior NCP leaders proposed Sunetra's elevation ahead of February 7 Pune Zilla Parishad elections. Family discussions preceded her acceptance. Ajit Pawar, 66, died Wednesday when his chartered aircraft crashed at Baramati airport, killing all five aboard. His last rites occurred Thursday with full state honors, attended by Amit Shah, Sharad Pawar, and other dignitaries. (PC: PTI)

Following Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's fatal plane crash Wednesday, momentum builds for merging the two Nationalist Congress Party factions, dubbed his "last wish." Aide Kiran Gujar revealed Ajit told him five days before the crash that merger processes were complete and imminent. Former minister Anil Deshmukh confirmed it was Ajit's "heartfelt wish." NCP leaders Bhujbal, Tatkare, and Munde met CM Fadnavis discussing Ajit's portfolios including Finance and Planning. Saturday's legislative party meeting may elect Ajit's wife Sunetra Pawar as NCP chief and potentially deputy CM. Ajit's faction allies with BJP-Shinde government while uncle Sharad Pawar's faction opposes them. Both recently contested civic polls together, signaling reconciliation momentum.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah leveraged the India-EU Free Trade Agreement as a campaign strategy at a Dibrugarh rally ahead of Assam Assembly polls. Shah announced that the FTA, sealed January 27, would eliminate tariffs on Assam tea exports to all 27 EU nations, significantly boosting the state's tea industry. Assam produces 52% of India's tea output, approximately 650 million kilograms projected for 2025. The deal targets Upper Assam's tea-growing communities and the Ahom population, key voting blocs where BJP has gained ground since 2014. The FTA, effective by 2027, removes duties on 99% of Indian exports by value, positioning Assam tea to compete globally against Sri Lankan, Kenyan, and Chinese producers. (PC: India Today)

The India Today-CVoter Mood of the Nation survey projects the BJP-led NDA would win 352 seats if Lok Sabha elections were held in January 2026, demonstrating sustained voter trust in PM Narendra Modi despite geopolitical tensions. The Congress-led INDIA bloc is projected at 182 seats, down from 234 in 2024 and 208 predicted in August 2025. The findings boost NDA ahead of 2026 assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry states where BJP has limited presence. In 2024 elections, BJP secured 240 seats, requiring allies JD(U) and TDP to form government, while Congress doubled its tally to 99 seats. (PC: AFP)

The Nationalist Congress Party is considering proposing Sunetra Pawar as Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister following the death of Ajit Pawar, sources said. Sunetra Pawar is currently a Rajya Sabha member. Senior party leader Narhari Zirwal told PTI that public opinion favours her induction into the state cabinet. Sources said several NCP leaders, including Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal and Dhananjay Munde, have met her as part of internal consultations. She may also contest the seat vacated by Ajit Pawar. The party is expected to discuss the proposal with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Talks on a possible NCP merger may follow later. (PC: India Today)

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor met party president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi in Parliament on Thursday. The meeting lasted about 90 minutes. Afterward, Tharoor said the discussion was constructive and that all sides were moving together on the same page. The meeting followed reports of strain between Tharoor and the party after his recent remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his absence from some key party meetings. Sources said Tharoor sought the meeting to share his views and concerns. They added the party would try to address these issues ahead of the Kerala assembly election later this year. (PC: NDTV)

West Bengal Chief Minister **Mamata Banerjee has sharply criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, warning that if he tries to “hurt” her, she will “become dangerous,” amid growing tensions over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Banerjee accused the BJP-led central government and the Election Commission of India (ECI) of harassing Bengali-speaking citizens, claiming people face discrimination and suffering in BJP-ruled states for speaking Bengali. She also condemned the SIR process as causing undue distress and stripping people of voter rights. Banerjee’s remarks reflect escalating political conflict ahead of upcoming elections. (PC: PTI)