MUMBAI: Sunetra Pawar, wife of the late Ajit Pawar, will take oath as Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister on Saturday, media reports say, two days after his death in a plane crash.

According to reports, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has summoned a legislature party meeting at 2pm on Saturday, where Sunetra Pawar, a Rajya Sabha member, is expected to be elected as leader. She is then likely to be sworn in as deputy chief minister at around 5pm at Raj Bhavan, as preparations are underway at the governor’s residence.

Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister and a veteran NCP leader, died when a chartered Learjet 45 carrying him and four others crashed near Baramati on 28 January. The aviation regulator confirmed that all on board were killed when the aircraft burst into flames during a second landing attempt.

The sudden loss of one of Maharashtra’s most experienced politicians has prompted swift consultation among NCP leaders. Party figures, including working president Praful Patel, have been involved in talks on succession and organisational continuity. Reports suggest that several senior leaders support Sunetra Pawar’s elevation, viewing it as a unifying choice at a fraught moment.

According to party allies, Sunetra Pawar may also be considered for additional responsibilities within the state government. Some sources indicate that she would oversee portfolios such as excise and sports, while the finance brief could move to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Observers see this as a pragmatic division of duties intended to balance governance and political stability.

The transition unfolds against the backdrop of wider speculation over the future of the NCP, including talks about reconciling rival factions that split in recent years. Close aides of Ajit Pawar had been exploring avenues to bring the party’s different strands back together before his death, and that conversation may now gain fresh impetus.

Ajit Pawar’s demise has left a notable vacuum in Maharashtra politics. As a long-serving deputy chief minister, he had overseen key portfolios, including finance and planning, and played a central role in the state’s coalition government. His unexpected death has triggered intense reflection among allies and critics alike on both his legacy and the path ahead.

As Maharashtra prepares for Sunetra Pawar’s swearing-in, the NCP faces its most urgent test in years: turning tragedy into cohesion and navigating a new chapter in state leadership.

NEW DELHI: According to media reports, senior journalist Palki Sharma has stepped down from her role as managing editor of Firstpost and is set to launch her own independent venture. 

During her impactful tenure at Network18, Sharma was the primary architect behind Firstpost’s transformation into a global video news powerhouse. Her most notable achievement was the launch of the flagship show, Vantage with Palki Sharma, which became a digital phenomenon, driving the platform to reach 9.2 million YouTube subscribers by early 2026. 

Under her leadership, the platform achieved a historic milestone of over 2 billion views in 2025, successfully repositioning the brand to offer a “uniquely Indian lens” on international affairs for a massive global audience.

According to the same reports, Firstpost has also appointed Binoy Prabhakar as its chief content officer. Prabhakar brings over 25 years of editorial experience, having previously worked with media organisations such as Hindustan Times, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, Moneycontrol, and CNBCTV18.com. He will be responsible for guiding Firstpost’s editorial direction as the brand moves into its next phase of growth.

As Firstpost turns the page, the moves signal transition, not disruption. While Palki Sharma charts an independent path after reshaping the platform’s global voice, Binoy Prabhakar steps in to steer its next chapter with seasoned editorial leadership.

NEW DELHI: Prasar Bharati has wrapped up a swift mid-year monetisation drive, awarding five vacant slots on DD Free Dish after concluding its 95th and 96th online e-auctions, reinforcing the platform’s pull even for short-term carriage. 

The public service broadcaster allotted the slots for a two-month period from February 1 to March 31, 2026, following the completion of the dual e-auctions covering both MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 categories, according to official results. 

Regional entertainment and movies won MPEG-2 

The 95th e-auction, conducted exclusively for MPEG-2 capacity, saw two channels clinch slots. Punjabi-language general entertainment channel GTC Punjabi and Hindi movie channel Movieplex secured carriage for the February–March window. 

MPEG-2 slots continue to attract regional and movie broadcasters looking to tap DD Free Dish’s vast rural and semi-urban footprint. The free-to-air platform reaches more than 40 million households, making it one of the country’s largest DTH distribution pipes. 

News takes centre stage in MPEG-4 

The 96th e-auction, held for MPEG-4 slots, was dominated by news broadcasters. North East Live, focused on the northeastern states, alongside FM News and K News India, emerged as successful bidders. 

Industry watchers say the tilt towards news in the MPEG-4 category underlines rising demand for sharper picture quality and deeper regional news penetration, particularly in underserved markets where DD Free Dish remains a primary television source. 

Filling gaps, fast 

Unlike the annual DD Free Dish auctions, the mid-year exercise was aimed at plugging vacant inventory on a pro-rata basis. Participation was restricted to satellite television channels holding valid uplinking and downlinking permissions from the ministry of information and broadcasting, including eligible international public broadcasters. 

DD Free Dish has become a critical distribution lever for free-to-air channels, offering massive reach without the carriage fees charged by private DTH operators. The latest results underline sustained demand for its limited slots, even for brief allotment periods. 

For Prasar Bharati, periodic auctions are proving to be a steady revenue tap. For broadcasters, the message is blunt: even two months on DD Free Dish is still worth the fight.