India, Jan. 31 -- Sunetra Pawar, wife of former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, was on Saturday sworn in as Maharashtra's first woman Deputy Chief Minister, days after the sudden demise of her husband in a plane crash.

Governor Acharya Devvrat administered the oath of office and secrecy to Sunetra Pawar at a simple ceremony held at Lok Bhavan in view of the recent tragedy. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, ministers, and legislators were present on the occasion.

After the oath-taking ceremony, Ajit Pawar's supporters raised slogans -- Amar Rahe Amar Rahe, Supriya tai aage badho.

Earlier in the day, Sunetra Pawar was unanimously elected as the NCP Legislature Party leader. Her name was proposed by party veter...