This Dalit Activist’s War is Against Dynastic Politics and Electoral Malpractices in Rajasthan

Advocate Jitendra Khatik alleges that officials from the general category often hesitate to take action against candidates of the same category fielded by influential political parties like Congress and BJP. This reluctance, Khatik argues, starkly contrasts with their swift and strict actions against Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) independent candidates, whose objections are quickly approved.

 Rajsamand/Udaipur- Who Dares to Challenge the Politically Influential? Challenging a legislator or parliamentarian is no easy feat, especially for a common man. Yet, as a popular Bollywood one-liner goes, “Don’t underestimate the power of a common man.”

Enter Jitendra Kumar Khatik, a Dalit activist and advocate from Rajsamand, who has emerged as the driving force behind a legal petition that has recently shaken Rajasthan’s political corridors.

The Rajasthan High Court has issued notices in response to an election petition filed by Khatik, who was also a candidate from Rajsamand in the 2024 parliamentary elections, challenging the election of Mahima Kumari, the BJP Member of Parliament from Rajsamand. The activist alleges that Mahima Kumari provided false information to the Election Commission and is demanding that her election be annulled. The petition is grounded in Sections 80A, 100, 125A, and 126C of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, citing procedural violations, false information, and concealment of critical facts.

Khatik’s petition argues that Mahima Kumari’s nomination contained critical inaccuracies, including omissions in her affidavit regarding assets, income sources, and her eligibility to contest elections. He also alleges that her candidacy was approved despite violations of procedural norms during scrutiny. According to Khatik, these actions amount to a breach of electoral laws and warrant the cancellation of her election.

An advocate by profession, Khatik has turned his legal expertise into a weapon against what he perceives as systemic injustice. Representing himself in court, he has stood his ground despite facing immense pressure from politically influential figures. “I fear no one. These so-called powerful people have achieved nothing on their merit. Their influence is inherited, not earned,” he said confidently.

Key Allegations and Alleged Irregularities in Mahima Kumari’s Election

The petition claims that Mahima Kumari’s election was marred by numerous irregularities in her nomination process, including the concealment of critical information in her election affidavit. Jitendra Khatik, a resident of Nathdwara, contends that Mahima Kumari failed to disclose vital details such as her assets, income sources, and certain financial transactions, thereby violating Section 125A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

The petition highlights discrepancies in Mahima Kumari’s affidavit, particularly the omission of assets related to a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) and the concealment of her PAN details. Additionally, the petitioner alleges that her nomination proposer, MLA Deepti Maheshwari, was registered as a voter in both Rajsamand and Udaipur, which is a violation of electoral laws.

Khatik had raised serious concerns about irregularities in the nomination form of candidate Deepti Maheshwari during the election procedure which is still pending at the court. 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.

According to Khatik, when a person changes their residence, their name must be removed from the previous voter list before being added to a new one. However, in Deepti’s case, her name remains registered at her father’s residence in Udaipur. Khatik argues that this discrepancy, highlighted in his objection, violates electoral norms and should disqualify Deepti from contesting the election.

These errors, according to the petition, were overlooked during the scrutiny process despite being flagged, raising concerns about the impartiality of the Returning Officer who allegedly acted under external pressure.

Jitendra Kumar also accuses Mahima Kumari’s husband, Vishwaraj Singh, an MLA from Nathdwara, of misusing his political power during the election process. He claims that the involvement of Mahima Kumari’s family in the election has resulted in a culture of nepotism, where candidates with political influence inherit positions without having worked for the party or the public. The petition further alleges that the election was influenced by voter inducement, citing the case of V-Mart, a showroom that operated during the election period to distribute goods to voters, which is considered illegal.

Despite being reported through the Election Commission’s C-Vigil app, no action was taken against those responsible for this alleged malpractice.

Furthermore, the petition challenges the scrutiny of nominations by other candidates, including those from Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), claiming that their nomination papers lacked proper validation, yet they were accepted. Jitendra Kumar asserts that these irregularities reflect a broader problem in the electoral process and call into question the fairness of the election.

In addition to contesting Mahima Kumari’s election, Jitendra Kumar accuses her of failing to disclose her assets and vehicles registered in Maharashtra. He argues that such omissions violate the voters’ right to accurate information about the candidates. Citing the Supreme Court’s directives on transparency, the petition stresses the importance of full disclosure in ensuring that voters can make an informed choice.

Jitendra Kumar has sought the following remedies from the court:

1. Disqualification of Mahima Kumari’s Nomination: Declaring her election void and barring her from contesting elections for six years.
2. Action Against Municipal Authorities and V-Mart: Investigating their alleged involvement in voter inducement.
3. Inquiry Into MLA Misconduct: Legal action against MLAs Vishwaraj Singh and Deepti Maheshwari for abusing their positions to influence the election.

The petition also calls for a review of the scrutiny process for other candidates. The Rajasthan High Court has issued notices to the respondents, including Mahima Kumari, her husband Vishwaraj Singh, Deepti Maheshwari, officials from the Election Commission, and the Rajsamand Municipal Council. The court has asked them to respond within a specified time frame.

This Dalit Activist’s War is Against Dynastic Politics and Electoral Malpractices in Rajasthan

Confronting Dynastic Politics and Electoral Manipulations?

The activist’s accusations go beyond legal technicalities, striking at the heart of political practices in Rajasthan. “Politics should not be a playground for the privileged or a legacy of royal families,” Khatik told The Mooknayak. “Influence, money power, and nepotism have no place in a democracy. Elections should reflect the will of the people, not the clout of elite families who treat public offices as personal fiefdoms.”

Khatik’s frustration stems from his own experiences as a grassroots BJP worker for over 25 years. In 2015-16, he was denied a ticket for the Rajsamand Zila Parishad elections on the pretext of being an “outsider” because he resided in a tehsil just eight kilometers away from the panchayat he intended to contest. This rejection, he believes, was a calculated move to favor influential candidates over dedicated party workers like him.

Since then, Khatik has made it a point to contest elections, from state assembly to parliamentary polls, to highlight the plight of grassroots workers and the systemic exclusion they face. In his latest battle, Khatik has taken it upon himself to expose what he calls the “imported candidates” trend in the BJP. “Be it Mahima Kumari, Vishwaraj Singh, or Deepti Maheshwari, they all represent the same problem,” Khatik asserts. “They haven’t worked for the party or the people. They’re parachuted into the political arena, relying on family legacies rather than merit or service. It’s a betrayal of the grassroots workers who have built the party from the ground up.”

Are Election Officials Biased Toward General Category Candidates from Major Parties?

Jitendra Khatik highlights a troubling pattern of discrimination in the electoral process, particularly in how election officials address errors in nomination forms. He alleges that officials from the general category often hesitate to take action against candidates of the same category fielded by influential political parties like Congress and BJP. This reluctance, Khatik argues, starkly contrasts with their swift and strict actions against Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) independent candidates, whose objections are quickly approved.

To substantiate his claims, Khatik cites the case of an SC candidate named Rakesh, whose nomination in the 2021 Municipal Council elections was rejected for a minor error—failing to write the ward number. Meanwhile, in the current election cycle, glaring mistakes such as concealed income, hidden assets, and improperly formatted affidavits by candidates from powerful parties have been conveniently overlooked. Khatik views this as a blatant violation of constitutional principles of equality, undermining the integrity of free and fair elections.

Fighting a legal battle against influential individuals is no easy feat, and Jitendra Khatik knows this all too well. According to him, his opponents have employed every tactic in the book—Sam, Dam, Dand, Bhed (persuasion, monetary inducements, punishment, and division)—to silence him. Yet, Khatik has remained resolute and undeterred.

The activist reveals that he has faced life-threatening situations during his fight for justice. In one chilling incident, contract killers were allegedly hired to eliminate him. However, Khatik credits his survival to sheer luck and his unwavering intuition, which he believes guided him through the danger.

Courtesy: The Mooknayak

Note: This news is originally published in themooknayak.com and is used completely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes especially for human rights.