Rajsamand- In Rajsamand, independent Dalit candidate Advocate Jitendra Khatik has taken on the political stalwarts of both the BJP and Congress, scrutinizing nomination papers in meticulous detail. From Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Speaker Dr. CP Joshi to Vishwaraj Singh of the Mewar royal family and Deepti Maheshwari the daughter of an ex-MP, Khatik claims to have uncovered errors in the nomination forms of all candidates. Asserting that these flaws warrant rejection, Khatik has lodged objections with the Returning Officers, vowing to approach the court if necessary.

Advocate Jitendra Kumar, representing the Dalit community, emphasizes the significance of adherence to electoral laws. He contends that any concealment of information or submission of false affidavits is not only grounds for cancellation of nomination but can also lead to criminal charges against the candidate.

Notably, Khatik points out irregularities in the nomination form of BJP candidate Deepti Maheshwari from Rajsamand. He highlights that Deepti's name is currently listed in the voter registers of both Rajsamand and Udaipur city, a violation of electoral regulations. Khatik argues that even if someone changes their residence, they can only add their name to a new voter list after removal from the previous one. In Deepti's case, her name continues to be listed at her father's residence in Udaipur. Khatik contends that this violation, as raised in his objection, should render Deepti ineligible for candidacy.

Deepti's father, Satyanarayan Maheshwari, informed the election officer that he has applied for the removal of Deepti's name from the Udaipur city voter list. However, Khatik rejects this explanation, asserting that being registered as a voter in more than one place at the time of filing the nomination form is a sufficient basis for considering a candidate ineligible.

Notably, Deepti, the daughter of the late Kiran Maheshwari, a former MLA in Rajsamand, stepped into the political arena following her mother's unfortunate demise due to a Covid-19 infection in November 2020. In a subsequent by-election in 2021, Deepti secured the MLA position on a BJP ticket. The intricacies of the Maheshwari family's political journey, however, extend beyond electoral victories.

A significant chapter in this political saga involves Kiran Maheshwari's electoral triumph in 2013 with an impressive margin of over 30 thousand votes, securing the Rajsamand seat and subsequently assuming the role of Education Minister. However, this success was not immune to legal challenges.

Advocate Jitendra Kumar Khatik entered the scene by filing a case at the Rajnagar police station, raising concerns about irregularities in Kiran Maheshwari's nomination papers. The allegations included the absence of the party symbol and the acceptance of signatures without proper scrutiny by the returning officer.

This legal battle unfolded through various stages, with MLA and Returning Officer Brajmohan Bairava submitting a monitoring petition to the District and Sessions Court. Despite initial setbacks, including the rejection of the monitoring petition, the matter escalated to the High Court. Undeterred, Jitendra Kumar Khatik persisted in challenging the case at the Supreme Court. He also filed a complaint at the Pratapnagar PS in Udaipur. Khatik alleged that Maheshwari exerted influence on the university, resulting in his wrongful failure in the LLM examination.

This historical backdrop now adds layers of complexity to the present scrutiny faced by Deepti Maheshwari. Her recent political journey, stepping into the shoes of her late mother, becomes intertwined with the ongoing controversy fuelled by Advocate Jitendra Khatik's allegations of irregularities in the nomination process.

Speaker Dr. CP Joshi Accused of Concealing Pensions, BJP's Vishwaraj Singh for Inconsistent Asset Declarations

According to Jitendra Kumar Khatik, the Congress candidate and Assembly Speaker, Dr. CP Joshi, failed to disclose his multiple pensions in the nomination form. Despite noting his role as a professor at Sukhadia University, Joshi omitted details about the separate pensions he receives as an MLA and MP, an oversight that Khatik argues is crucial for transparency.

Joshi's extensive political career, having been elected as an MLA from Nathdwara five times and an MP from Bhilwara in 2009, amplifies the significance of these allegations. Khatik contends that MLAs in Rajasthan receive a distinct pension for each election victory, implying that Joshi should be receiving multiple pensions, information that is absent from his nomination form.

Similarly, the scrutiny extends to the BJP candidate, Vishwaraj Singh Mewar. Khatik raises concerns about the accuracy of the asset information provided by Singh. Notably, Singh's wife also filled out a nomination form as a dummy, a move seen as an attempt to secure candidacy in case Singh's form faced rejection. The inconsistency in the valuation of Singh's property, as documented by both husband and wife on the same day, raises questions about the accuracy of the information provided to the public.

Jitendra Kumar sheds light on the uniformity of the nomination process, emphasizing that from Ward Punch to Councilor, MLA, or MP, any error can render a candidate ineligible. Drawing on a past example, he recounts the flawed nomination paper of Sarpanch Jeena Devi Regar in the 2016 Namana Panchayat elections in Khamnor, Rajsamand. Following the cancellation of Regar's form, Jitendra's father Nanuram assumed the role unopposed and remained Sarpanch for 4.5 years.

Khatik asserts that the responsibility lies with election officers to declare flawed nominations cancelled. He laments the apparent discrimination in handling objections, noting that objections on the forms of Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) independent candidates are swiftly approved, while errors in forms from influential Congress and BJP candidates are overlooked.

Alleging political discrimination, Khatik contends that election officials from the general category refrain from taking action against general category party candidates, violating the spirit of equality in the Constitution. Illustrating this point, he cites the rejection of an SC candidate named Rakesh in the 2021 Municipal Council elections for failing to write the number of the ward. In contrast, in the current election, candidates face charges of hiding income and property information, providing incorrect details, and not submitting affidavits in the proper format. Khatik criticizes the election officials for overlooking these mistakes, highlighting a concerning trend that jeopardizes the principles of free and fair elections.