Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra Pawar to take oath as Maharashtra's new Deputy CM
Mumbai: Two days after the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is set to see a leadership transition, with his wife, Sunetra Pawar, likely to take over as deputy chief minister and assume a larger role in the party.
Sources said Sunetra Pawar, currently a Rajya Sabha member, is expected to take oath as Maharashtra deputy chief minister on Saturday. The move comes amid discussions within the NCP on assigning her a more prominent leadership role following Ajit Pawar’s demise.
Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal said a meeting of the NCP legislature party has been convened on Saturday, during which Sunetra Pawar will be named as its leader. “Many leaders want her to become the deputy chief minister,” Bhujbal told reporters.
According to sources, Sunetra Pawar is likely to be allocated the Excise and Sports portfolios, while the Finance portfolio will be handled by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Bhujbal said Fadnavis has conveyed that he has no objection to Sunetra Pawar’s oath-taking as deputy chief minister.
Sunetra Pawar is currently a Rajya Sabha MP of the Nationalist Congress Party and is not a member of either House of the Maharashtra legislature. However, the Baramati Assembly seat has fallen vacant following Ajit Pawar’s death, from where she is likely to contest the assembly by-polls.
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What is Iran’s 10-point plan? Key demands ahead of US talks in Islamabad
Tehran/Islamabad: Iran has outlined a 10-point plan as the basis for upcoming talks with the United States, expected to begin in Islamabad on April 11, according to a statement from the Iranian Supreme National Security Council.
The plan lays out Tehran’s key political, military and economic demands, and is being seen as a framework for negotiations following the recent escalation in the region.
Strait of Hormuz at the centre
A major focus of the plan is the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. Iran has proposed “controlled passage through the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with the Iranian armed forces,” which it says would give the country a unique economic and geopolitical position.
The plan also calls for the “establishment of a safe transit protocol” in the Strait that would guarantee Iran’s dominance under an agreed mechanism.
Call to end conflict
Iran has demanded “the necessity of ending the war against all elements of the axis of resistance,” signalling its expectation that hostilities should stop not only in Iran but also involving allied groups in the region.
US troop withdrawal
Another key demand is the “withdrawal of US combat forces from all bases and deployment points in the region,” indicating Tehran’s long-standing position against American military presence in West Asia.
Sanctions relief and compensation
The plan places strong emphasis on economic measures. It calls for “full payment of Iran’s damages according to estimates,” along with “the lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions and resolutions of the Board of Governors and the Security Council.”
It also seeks “the release of all Iranian assets and properties frozen abroad,” which have been a major point of contention for years.
Binding global guarantee
Finally, Iran has demanded that all these terms be formally recognised through “a binding Security Council resolution,” suggesting it wants international legal backing to ensure enforcement.
What this means
The 10-point plan reflects Iran’s broader push for security guarantees, economic relief and regional influence. The upcoming talks in Islamabad are expected to test how far both sides are willing to negotiate on these demands.
