Mumbai, April 2 (NationPress) Just a month after Sunetra Pawar assumed the role of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) national president following the tragic passing of her husband, Ajit Pawar, the former deputy chief minister, her younger son, Jay Pawar, has officially stepped into the political arena.

Jay Pawar has been inducted into the NCP’s apex committee, although he has not yet been assigned a specific role within the party structure.

Notably, Jay’s brother, Parth Pawar, has been elected to the Rajya Sabha and is set to take his oath after April 6.

On March 10, Jay Pawar was appointed as a member of the apex committee through a letter sent by Sunetra Pawar to the Election Commission of India (ECI).

His inclusion in the apex committee was announced during a national convention of the NCP held on February 26.

This convention also marked the selection of Sunetra Pawar as the party's national president, following the untimely death of NCP chief and Maharashtra's deputy chief minister, Ajit Pawar, in a tragic aircraft accident.

The apex committee is recognized as the highest decision-making entity within the party, empowered to make crucial organizational and political choices.

Following the influential career of the family patriarch, Sharad Pawar, his nephew Ajit Pawar entered politics in the late 1980s. Subsequently, Supriya Sule, Sharad Pawar's daughter, began her political journey as a Rajya Sabha MP in 2006.

Sharad Pawar’s grandnephew, Rohit Pawar, made his political debut in the Zilla Parishad elections in 2017 and later secured victories in the assembly elections of 2019 and 2024.

Sunetra Pawar became a Rajya Sabha MP in June 2024, although she faced defeat against Supriya Sule in the Baramati parliamentary seat during the general elections.

Parth Pawar entered politics in 2019, attempting to contest the Lok Sabha election from the Maval constituency as a candidate of the then-undivided NCP but was defeated by Shrirang Barne of the Shiv Sena.

Since that time, Parth has remained actively engaged in both political and social initiatives, though he has yet to receive an official role within the NCP.

Another grandnephew of Sharad Pawar, Yugendra Pawar, contested against his uncle Ajit Pawar in the 2024 assembly elections but faced defeat.

Until now, Jay had maintained a low profile in politics and was not perceived as an active figure in the political landscape.

However, he participated in his mother’s campaign during the Lok Sabha elections and has been frequently seen accompanying her since the passing of Ajit Pawar.

The letter sent by Sunetra Pawar to the ECI provided details regarding organizational elections and the newly elected office bearers.

This list includes prominent names such as Sunetra Pawar, Praful Patel (national working president), Sunil Tatkare (NCP state president), Chhagan Bhujbal (Maharashtra minister and MLA), Dilip Walse-Patil (MLA), Manikarao Kokate (MLA), Chetan Tupe (MLA), Shekhar Nikam (MLA), Subodh Mohite (former MP), Saroj Ahire (MLA), Sana Malik (MLA), Jay Pawar, and Dhiraj Sharma (national youth chief).

“Jay Pawar represents the new generation of leaders within the party, carrying a significant legacy. He is expected to receive critical responsibilities soon as part of the apex committee,” stated Anand Paranjape, the chief spokesperson of the NCP.

Within the party’s structure, all serving MPs, MLAs, former MPs, and MLAs are automatically included as invitees during national conventions.

In the meantime, Parth Pawar took to social media to refute claims regarding the removal of Praful Patel from the role of national working president or Sunil Tatkare as the Maharashtra unit chief.

He remarked, “Allegations suggesting the displacement of Praful Patel ji and Sunil Tatkare ji are entirely unfounded. Their decades of steadfast dedication and leadership remain our guiding force. It is deeply regrettable to see such seasoned leaders dragged into fictitious controversies.”