Indian-Origin Attorney Keshav Poddar Appointed Deputy Mayor of Jersey City

Indian-Origin Attorney Keshav Poddar Sworn in as Deputy Mayor of Jersey City

Indian-origin attorney Keshav Poddar has been sworn in as Deputy Mayor of Jersey City , assuming charge of housing and economic development in the city’s new administration. Poddar took his oath on the Bhagwat Gita , symbolically affirming his Indian heritage while stepping into one of the city’s most influential executive roles.

Key Appointment in the New City Administration

Announcing the appointment, Mayor-elect James Solomon said Poddar would be instrumental in delivering a resident-first governance agenda . He highlighted Poddar’s long-standing work in affordable housing, community development, and advocacy for working families .

Poddar had earlier served as the executive director of Solomon’s transition team , where he played a key role in identifying policy priorities and administrative reforms for the incoming city government.

Experience Across Federal and State Government

Professionally, Poddar is a lawyer specialising in community economic development and affordable housing construction in New Jersey. At the federal level, he most recently served as an economic policy adviser in the Joe Biden–Kamala Harris administration .

His experience includes working at the National Security Council and on the staff of Kamala Harris . Poddar also served as Harris’s economic policy manager during her presidential campaign , gaining exposure to national-level economic, housing, and labour policy formulation.

Earlier Work in New Jersey

Before joining the federal administration, Poddar worked as counsel to the former New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal . In that role, he contributed to New Jersey’s Covid-19 response and handled policy matters related to consumer protection, criminal justice reform, and opioid enforcement .

This combination of state and federal experience has positioned Poddar as a policy professional with strong legal, administrative, and governance expertise .

Role and Responsibilities as Deputy Mayor

As Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development , Poddar will coordinate policies across multiple city agencies. His responsibilities include:

• Negotiating affordable and workforce housing projects

• Aligning urban development with community needs

• Supporting inclusive economic growth across Jersey City’s neighbourhoods

The appointment reflects Jersey City’s emphasis on addressing housing affordability and equitable development as core urban governance challenges.

Exam-Focused Points

• Jersey City is the second-largest city in New Jersey (USA) .

• Keshav Poddar sworn in as Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development .

• Oath taken on the Bhagwat Gita , a key Hindu philosophical text.

• Poddar served in the Biden–Harris administration as