Jay Pawar, 29, was rarely seen on political field before the 2024 Assembly elections in Maharashtra. (Photo: Instagram/@jayajitpawar)Yet another member of Pawar family has entered politics officially. Late Ajit Pawar’s younger son Jay Pawar is now part of ruling Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP) apex body, though he is yet to be assigned a designated responsibility within the organisation.Jay Pawar was named apex level committee member of the party in a letter sent by Sunetra Pawar to the Election Commission of India (ECI) on March 10. His name was included in the panel at the party’s national convention held on February 26, where Sunetra Pawar was elected party’s national president following the death of her husband and NCP chief Ajit Pawar, who was then the deputy chief ministerMaharashtra, in a plane crash.Apex level committee is considered the highest decision making body in the party that is authorised to take various organisational and political decisions.Jay Pawar, 29, was rarely seen on political field before the 2024 Assembly elections in Maharashtra, when he was rumoured to be contesting from Baramati instead of his father. Restricted to business, his name was linked with a liquor company when his father late Ajit Pawar started handling the excise portfolio. Jay pawar got married to Rutuja Patil in the first week of December 2025 at Baharain attended by many members of Pawar family.Pawars in politicsAfter family patriarch and veteran leader Sharad Pawar, his nephew Ajit Pawar entered the politics in late 80s. After Ajit Pawar, Sharad Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule joined the politics after she became Rajya Sabha MP in 2006. Sharad Pawar’s grandnephew Rohit Pawar entered politics by winning 2017 Pune Zilla Parishad polls and later became an MLA. Sunetra Pawar became Rajya Sabha MP in 2024. Sharad Pawar’s another grandnephew Yugendra Pawar entered politics by unsuccessfully contesting 2024 assembly polls in Baramati.Parth, the elder son of Ajit Pawar, has already become a Rajya Sabha MP of the NCP. He joined politics in 2019 when he unsuccessfully contested Lok Sabha election from Maval constituency as a candidate of the undivided NCP. He was then defeated by undivided Shiv Sena’’s Shrirang Barne. Since then, Parth has been active in political as well as social life. However, he took was never given an official position in the NCP.Till now, Jay kept a distance from politics and was never seen active on the political arena. Since the death of Ajit Pawar, he is constantly seen accompanying his mother Sunetra Pawar to different places.Story continues below this adThe letter sent by Sunetra Pawar to the ECI detailed organisational elections and names of office-bearers elected. The list includes Sunetra Pawar, Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse-Patil, Manikaraao Kokate, Chetan Tupe, Shekhar Nikam, Subodh Mohite, Shivajirao Garje, Saroj Ahire, Sana Malik, Jay Pawar and Dhiraj Sharma.Alok Deshpande is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized for his focused and authoritative reporting on governance, politics, and the socio-economic dynamics of Maharashtra's hinterlands. His unique academic background in Geology and early work in the water sector provides a specialized layer of Expertise to his reporting on resource and environmental issues. Expertise Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai. Core Authority: Alok provides detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, with a particular emphasis on how policies and power struggles affect the rural and semi-urban areas (the 'hinterlands'). Key Coverage Areas: His reports frequently focus on high-stakes administrative and political topics, including: State Assembly Proceedings: In-depth reporting on the Legislative Assembly, covering ministerial statements, legislative debates, and inter-party conflict within the ruling Mahayuti alliance. Policy & Finance: Coverage of state finances, including supplementary budget demands, fiscal deficits, and major government schemes (e.g., Jal Jeevan Mission, Ladki Bahin Yojana). Rural and Social Issues: Reports on critical health issues (e.g., child deaths in districts), human-animal conflict (leopard attacks, stray dogs), and agrarian concerns (e.g., farmer suicides). Local and Urban Governance: Covers major announcements regarding urban development (e.g., BMC's OC amnesty scheme, pagdi system push) and local body elections, including political defections and alliance splits. Unique Credentials & Trustworthiness Academic Specialization: Holds a Post-graduate degree in Geology. This background gives him a foundational understanding of natural resources, which directly informs his reporting on environment, water, and infrastructure projects. Early Professional Experience: His shift to journalism came after working with an NGO focused on the water sector. This practical experience strengthens his Expertise in critical areas like water management and rural development, as evidenced by his reporting on the Jal Jeevan Mission. Journalism Training: An alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, confirming his formal training and commitment to rigorous journalistic standards. Alok Deshpande's rare combination of scientific education, non-profit sector experience, and deep political reporting makes him a highly trusted and authoritative voice on the governance and ground realities of Maharashtra. He tweets @alokdesh ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd