NCP leader Ajit Pawar was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra on July 2, following recent political developments within his party. These developments reportedly left him disgruntled, leading to his alliance with the BJP-Shiv Sena (Shinde) government. Pawar took eight MLAs from the NCP, which is currently in opposition, to join the Eknath Shinde-led government. This is not the first time Pawar has held this position, as he previously took oath as Deputy Chief Minister in 2019 but returned to the NCP fold after a short period of rebellion. Presently, Devendra Fadnavis also serves as a Deputy Chief Minister in Maharashtra.

The post of Deputy Chief Minister is not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution of India. According to Article 163(1), there should be a Council of Ministers with the Chief Minister at the helm, aiding and advising the Governor in their functions. Neither Article 163 nor Article 164(1), which pertains to the appointment of Ministers, mentions the position of Deputy Chief Minister. However, the role of Deputy Chief Minister is generally considered equivalent to that of a Cabinet Minister in the state. Deputy Chief Ministers receive the same remuneration and benefits as Cabinet Ministers.

The appointment of a Deputy Chief Minister is often a political compromise following the formation of a coalition government or when no single leader holds undisputed authority within the ruling party. The Deputy Chief Minister represents a balancing act aimed at maintaining loyalty among key interest groups within the state. Currently, twelve states in India have Deputy Chief Ministers, including Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and several northeastern states. Andhra Pradesh's Chief Minister, Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, has five Deputy Chief Ministers.

In addition to Deputy Chief Ministers at the state level, India has also witnessed the appointment of Deputy Prime Ministers. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was the first Deputy Prime Minister, serving alongside Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Other notable individuals who held the position include Morarji Desai, Charan Singh, Chaudhary Devi Lal, and Lal Krishna Advani. However, the appointment of Deputy Prime Ministers has occasionally faced legal challenges, as seen in the case of Devi Lal's appointment in V.P. Singh's government in 1989.