Sunetra Pawar says 'will accept Union Minister role if offered'

Sunetra Pawar, wife of Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Ajit Pawar, has said she would be happy to accept any offer of berth in the Union Council of Ministers. She also said she would strive to make the most of the opportunity.

Speaking during the campaigning in the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency, a stronghold of the Pawar family, Sunetra said her party, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), is doing an introspection of her loss in the Baramati Lok Sabha seat in Pune district and will take corrective measures post the analysis.

Sunetra also said she received a tremendous response from people, but ultimately, voters' verdict has to be accepted.

"Of course, if given a chance, I will surely seize the opportunity," she said on being asked by reporters if she would accept an offer of berth in the central ministry.

Set to be elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha, Sunetra Pawar lost to her sister-in-law and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) MP Supriya Sule in the western Maharashtra constituency.

On Thursday, she filed her nomination papers in Mumbai as the NCP candidate for a Rajya Sabha bypoll in the state.

Since she is the only candidate in the fray, Sunetra Pawar is set to be elected unopposed to the Upper House of Parliament.

She was accorded a grand welcome by the local NCP unit when she arrived in Pune.

The NCP, headed by Ajit Pawar, a BJP ally, currently has no representation in the new BJP-led NDA government at the Centre which was sworn in on Sunday last.

The NCP turned down the BJP's offer to accommodate senior leader Praful Patel as a minister of state with independent charge in the new NDA government.