Accompanied by senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders, including Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare, Pawar visited the Siddhivinayak Temple in Prabhadevi, where she offered prayers to Lord Ganesha

Her son Parth was also present at the temple on Tuesday morning

The visits come days after Pawar was sworn in as Maharashtra’s first woman deputy CM on January 31, following the tragic death of her husband, former Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, in an air crash on January 28

In the recent cabinet allocation, she was assigned the state excise, sports, and minority development portfolios. She has also been appointed Guardian Minister for Pune and Beed districts

Following the prayers, Pawar proceeded to the Chaityabhoomi in Dadar, where she paid homage to Bharat Ratna Dr BR Ambedkar at his memorial. She offered floral tributes and observed a moment of silence in remembrance of the chief architect of the Indian Constitution.  

Later in the day, Pawar formally took charge at her office. She is likely to attend a cabinet meeting and carry out official engagements at Mantralaya and Vidhan Bhavan. Earlier, sources had stated that she is likely to also travel to Delhi to meet Central leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah.

Earlier, sources had stated that she is likely to also travel to Delhi to meet Central leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah.