Allegations of Fabricated Fraud and Counter-Accusations of Ballot Harvesting
Edison, NJ – The already volatile Edison Democratic primary election has escalated into a full-blown political war, with accusations of fabricated fraud leveled against a slate of Indian-American candidates, and counter-claims of a systemic ballot harvesting scandal implicating Mayor Sam Joshi’s running mate.
The initial complaint, filed by former Democratic Chairman Bimal Joshi, alleges that mayoral candidates Lav Patel and Anjana Patel, along with council candidates Jayesh Mehta, Ingrid Chen, and Anthony DeAmorin, engaged in deceptive practices to secure ballot signatures, violating Title 19 of New Jersey election law. However, these allegations are now being met with fierce resistance, with campaign insiders asserting they are politically motivated and designed to eliminate viable competition.
“It’s deeply concerning to see Mayor Sam Joshi and his allies resorting to high-powered legal tactics to disqualify fellow Democrats in the primary. This isn’t about policy; it’s about denying Edison residents their fundamental right to choose their representatives. To attempt to block ballot access is not only anti-democratic, but it’s also a form of bullying that I, and many others, vehemently oppose. These actions contradict the core values of our party” said Councilman Rich Brescher who is also a candidate for Mayor. “Frankly, this kind of behavior from certain Democrats risks alienating voters and turning New Jersey red. We as Democrats must hold ourselves to a higher standard and reject these tactics. Let’s be better than this, Sam.”
Adding a dramatic twist to the unfolding saga, sources close to the Patel campaign have revealed that the accused candidates are in the process of making a formal request to U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, Alina Habba, to investigate a deep-rooted and systemic ballot harvesting operation. This alleged operation is said to be directly tied to Biral Patel, Mayor Sam Joshi’s running mate, who has also received the endorsement of the Middlesex County Democratic Organization.
The Patel campaign alleges that this ballot harvesting scheme represents a far more egregious violation of election integrity than the accusations leveled against them. They claim that this operation has been designed to manipulate the election results, and that they have evidence that will be presented to the U.S. Attorney.
“While Mr. Joshi attempts to use frivolous claims to discredit our campaign, we are preparing to expose a serious and calculated attempt to undermine the democratic process,” a campaign spokesperson stated. “We are confident that the U.S. Attorney will find merit in our claims, and that those who have participated in this illegal activity will be held accountable.”
The campaign for the accused candidates, states that the timing of the original accusations, and the nature of them, are designed to create a distraction, and to muddy the waters of the election, prior to the exposure of the ballot harvesting operation.
The allegations of ballot harvesting, if substantiated, could have far-reaching consequences, potentially implicating high-ranking members of the Middlesex County Democratic Organization. This counter-accusation has dramatically raised the stakes of the Edison primary, transforming it into a battle for the very integrity of the electoral process.
“The allegations of widespread ballot harvesting are deeply troubling and strike at the very heart of our democratic process. If even a fraction of these claims are true, it represents a serious threat to the integrity of our elections. The voters of Edison deserve to have complete confidence that their voices are being heard, and that every ballot is cast and counted fairly” said Republican Mayoral candidate Gloria Dittman who is uncontested in the June 10th primary. “Therefore, a thorough and impartial investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s office is absolutely essential. We must ensure that every measure is taken to safeguard the sanctity of our elections and restore public trust.”
The Edison Township Clerk’s office, and now potentially, the U.S. Attorneys office, are now faced with the daunting task of unraveling these complex and conflicting claims. The outcome of these investigations will undoubtedly shape the future of Edison’s political landscape.
