NEW KID ON THE BLOCK

MUMBAI: Rohit, the grand-nephew of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, is likely to be the newest scion from the family to join politics.

Accompanying Pawar during his ongoing tour of drought-hit areas of Maharashtra, Rohit, 33, has already become a talking point in the state’s political circles. Within the NCP, there is a talk about Pawar guiding his grand-nephew on the nitty-gritties of public life.

Clad in white shirt and blue jeans, Rohit is seen sitting beside Pawar as the latter interacts with farmers and local party workers during his tour that he resumed on Monday after a short break. “I was in business and social sector for the past twelve years. While working in social sector, I realised if one has to make a difference to society, politics is the way. That’s why I decided to join it,” Rohit told Hindustan Times on Tuesday. “I am fortunate to get guidance from Pawarsaheb. I am observing and learning.”

Grandson of Pawar’s elder brother Dinkarrao, Rohit has been associated with sugar and poultry business. After he graduated in management studies from the Mumbai University, he joined Baramati Agro Limited, an agroindustry in which his father, Rajendra Pawar, is the managing director. He is also the president of the Indian Sugar Mills Association, an association of private and cooperative sugar mills in India. Two years ago, he joined local politics in Pune district. He was elected to Pune zilla parishad from Baramati, the pocket-borough of the Pawars. “I thought I should learn politics from local level, so I contested the ZP elections,”