Following her significant victory in the Baramati assembly by-election, where she secured a historic margin of over 218,000 votes, Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar submitted her resignation from the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
On the same day, Sunetra Pawar met with C.P. Radhakrishnan, the Vice President of India and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, at the Vice President’s residence, where she officially resigned from her position as a Rajya Sabha Member.
The Chairman accepted her resignation, which will take effect from May 6, as confirmed by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
In her resignation statement, Sunetra expressed her gratitude to the citizens of Maharashtra for their support in her election to the state assembly. She reflected on her brief but fulfilling time as a Rajya Sabha member, stating, “My experience has been enriching and enlightening, broadening my perspectives on both national and international matters.” She expressed appreciation for the guidance received from the Vice President as she embarks on her future endeavors in public service.
Sunetra Pawar was appointed to the Rajya Sabha by her husband, Ajit Pawar, who serves as the NCP’s national president. She was elected unopposed on June 18, 2024, succeeding Praful Patel, the working president of the NCP, who had time remaining on his four-year term.
Despite losing the Baramati Lok Sabha election to her sister-in-law Supriya Sule by a margin of 158,000 votes during the same month she joined the Rajya Sabha, Ajit Pawar was determined to ensure his wife’s political advancement. The Baramati election campaign was marked by intense rivalry between the two branches of the Pawar family, with many members of the extended family supporting Sule. Despite significant backing from the NCP’s allies, including the BJP and Shiv Sena, Sunetra’s efforts to win the Lok Sabha seat were unsuccessful, prompting Ajit Pawar to help her secure a position in the Rajya Sabha instead.
Sunetra Pawar’s recent victory in the Baramati assembly election not only exceeded her husband’s previous record by over 165,000 votes in the 2019 elections but was achieved with minimal campaigning, largely led by her younger son, Jay Pawar.
In a separate development, Jay Pawar is scheduled to hold a public outreach event, Janata Darbar, in Baramati on Thursday. He will engage with residents from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM to address their concerns and provide solutions.
Manoj Dattatrye More serves as a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, where he has been employed since 1992. Based in Pune, he boasts a 33-year career as a journalist, encompassing editorial responsibilities, investigative journalism, and political commentary.
Professional Background: More dedicated the initial 16 years of his career to the editorial desk before transitioning into field reporting. He has authored over 20,000 articles, including more than 10,000 pieces attributed directly to him.
Impactful Journalism: He is recognized for his “campaign-style” reporting that leads to significant social advancements.
Road Safety Advocacy: His decade-long campaign addressing the hazardous conditions of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki led to a ₹23 crore reconstruction initiative in 2006, significantly reducing accident fatalities.
Environmental Conservation: His investigative work against tree removal along the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways resulted in the preservation of approximately 2,000 trees.
Anti-Corruption Efforts: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he uncovered a scandal involving bribes demanded from doctors for government positions, leading to their employment without financial transactions.
Recent Significant Articles (Late 2025):
- Political Dynamics & Alliances – “Ajit Pawar’s NCP maintains dominance in Pune, winning 10 out of 17 local bodies” (Dec 21, 2025): This report highlights the NCP’s strong position in local elections across Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala.
- Political Defections – “BJP recruits 13 former corporators, lands a major blow to NCP” (Dec 20, 2025): Coverage of a significant political shift in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP prepares for upcoming civic elections.
- Civic Election Developments – “Congress chooses to run independently in BMC as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) fall through” (Dec 17, 2025): An overview of the breakdown in negotiations for the Mumbai civic elections.
- Party Transitions – “NCP(SP)’s Rahul Kalate and Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP” (Dec 19, 2025): Report detailing notable political shifts ahead of municipal elections.
Civic Accountability & Administration
- “PCMC faces criticism for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before election regulations” (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative examination of last-minute expenditures by the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation.
- “93 fatalities in 76 accidents over five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 years” (Nov 16, 2025): A critical analysis of infrastructure delays contributing to traffic-related deaths.
Social and Labor Issues
- “State claims TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE counters, reporting nearly 2,500 forced resignations” (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating discrepancies in reports regarding layoffs in Maharashtra’s IT sector.
- “Maharashtra government plans to ‘downgrade’ Aadhaar cards” (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documentation alongside Aadhaar to prevent identity fraud.
Signature Focus: Manoj More is recognized as the authoritative voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial area he has covered for three decades, known for his determined stance against local thuggery and a persistent focus on civic infrastructure issues.
