Two days after winning the Baramati assembly bypoll with a “record margin” over 2.18 lakh votes, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar on Wednesday resigned as Rajya Sabha MP.

Sunetra Pawar, the MLA-elect, called on the Vice President of India and Chairman, Rajya Sabha, C P Radhakrishnan at Uprashtrapati Bhawan the same day and tendered her resignation as Member of Rajya Sabha.

Her resignation was accepted by the Chairman with effect from May 6, the NCP said.

“As I have been elected to the Maharashtra State assembly, I have tendered my resignation as a Member of the Rajya Sabha. I am grateful to the people of Maharashtra for having elected me to the Vidhan Sabha, as well as for the opportunity given to me to serve at the national level as a Member of the Council of States. My tenure, though short, has been enriching and enlightening, and has brought a wider perspective to my understanding of national and international issues,” she said after submitting her resignation. Vice President Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan ji accepted my resignation. He also guided me on my onward journey in public life, for which I am ever so grateful.”

Sunetra Pawar was nominated for Rajya Sabha by her husband Ajit Pawar, the national president of NCP. She was elected unopposed on June 18, 2024. She replaced Praful Patel, the NCP working president Praful Patel who had four year term Rajya Sabha term left.

However, the NCP made Patel resign and ensured Sunetra made it to the Rajya Sabha. In the same month when she became the Rajya Sabha MP, Sunetra Pawar had lost the Baramati Lok Sabha election by a margin of 1.58 lakh votes to her sister-in-law Supriya Sule, daughter of NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar.

Ajit Pawar had staked everything to get his wife elected to the Lok Sabha from Baramati. NCP’s alliance partner, BJP and Shiv Sena had backed him to the hilt. The Baramati electioneering had witnessed bitter duel between the two Pawar families. In fact, most members of the extended Pawar family in the Sule camp. Even Ajit Pawar’s brother and his family had supported Sule. Despite his all-out efforts, Sunetra Pawar had lost the Baramati Lok Sabha election by a big margin. A rattled Ajit Pawar then ensured that his wife made it to Rajya Sabha.

Sunetra Pawar had won the Baramati assembly by a record margin of over 2.18 lakh. She even surpassed her husband late Ajit Pawar’s record margin of winning by over 1.65 lakh which he had achieved in 2019 elections. Sunetra Pawar secured the record though she hardly campaigned. Her younger son, Jay Pawar, led his mother’s campaign.

Meanwhile, Jay Pawar, will hold a Janata Darbar in Baramati on Thursday, the NCP said. He will personally meet citizens from 11:00 am to 3 pm and ensure prompt resolution of their concerns.