Edison, NJ – The upcoming Democratic mayoral primary in Edison has descended into chaos, with Board of Education member Anjana Patel accusing incumbent Mayor Sam Joshi of orchestrating a “campaign of fear” to derail her candidacy. Patel’s certified statement details a series of alleged intimidation tactics, including threats of criminal prosecution, aimed at silencing her and protecting Joshi’s political power.
“I am a proud member of the Democratic party, proud Edison resident, and proud
American. This year I made a decision to run for Mayor of Edison in the June 10, 2025 Democratic primary. It was not an easy decision, but I felt strongly that I could offer a contrast to the current administration” said Board of Education Member Anjana Patel in her certification dated 3/30/25. “As a woman and mother I could bring a focus to the issues impacting our families and our children, and my experience in education would provide me a platform to ensure that our quality of life and children are at the forefront of every decision made in Town Hall.”
Patel, who filed her mayoral petitions on March 21, 2025, alleges that within minutes, Mayor Joshi initiated a series of unwelcome communications. “Mayor Joshi and I are not friends and there is no reason for him to reach out to me other than to try to intimidate me out of running,” Patel asserts. She claims these interactions, coupled with the mayor’s perceived “vast power and resources,” led her to consider withdrawing from the race out of fear for her family’s safety.
Adding to the controversy, Patel claims that Mayor Joshi obtained copies of her and Lav Patel’s petitions and then contacted individuals who had signed them, “demanding to know why they signed them.” She expresses deep concern for the alleged “interrogation” of these residents, highlighting the potential for intimidation.
The situation escalated dramatically on March 28, 2025. Patel alleges that Joshi’s campaign filed a letter seeking to disqualify her petitions, employing what she describes as “scary buzzwords” like “fraud” and “conspiracy” to intimidate her supporters. “Mayor Joshi’s campaign by fear continued,” Patel states in her certification. “This time by filing a letter to disqualify my petitions, and trying to scare me and my supporters by threatening criminal prosecution…more likely meant more for a press release to scare our supporters than meaningful legal argument.”
Patel directly addresses the allegations contained within the disqualification letter. She refutes claims that she initially sought support for a council run, as alleged by Ratilal Patel, and denies any knowledge of misrepresentations regarding the signatures of Neela Tolia, Sudhir Tolia, and Chatanya Wattamwar. She also dismisses the allegation that her petitions were left blank, asserting that her name was clearly visible on the circulated pages.
Patel’s certification concludes with a strong condemnation of Joshi’s alleged tactics. “The democratic voters should decide who is the best standard bearer to represent the party in the November 2025 general election,” she states. “Residents who sign the petitions for candidates for office should not live in fear of being intimidated and harassed by the opposing candidates.”
Patel is demanding that the challenge to her petitions be rejected. The allegations have ignited a fierce debate within the Edison Democratic party, raising questions about the fairness and integrity of the electoral process. Mayor Joshi and Chief of Staff Bob Diehl did not respond to request for comment.
