Pune : Dilip Khedkar, father of dismissed trainee IAS officer Pooja Khedkar, has now contested the Maharashtra Assembly elections after failing in the Lok Sabha elections. Dilip Khedkar will contest as an independent candidate from Shevgaon seat in Ahilyanagar district. This time he has not given any information related to his wife in the election affidavit, whereas he had done so during the Lok Sabha elections. He filed nomination papers for the assembly elections on Tuesday. Tuesday is the last day to file the nomination process. Former government official Dilip Khedkar and his wife Manorama Khedkar are among the accused in the alleged criminal intimidation case. In June 2023, Manorama had allegedly shown a gun to a farmer in Pune district over a land dispute.
Pooja Khedkar had made this claim
During this year’s Lok Sabha elections, Dilip had mentioned details about his wife Manorama in his election affidavit and indicated that they were not separated, while his daughter Pooja Khedkar had claimed that they were separated. This time Dilip did not give details of his wife in the ‘life partner’ section. Pooja Khedkar is accused of misusing the OBC ‘non-creamy layer’ reservation in UPSC by claiming that her parents were separated.
Dilip Khedkar’s affidavit game
In his affidavit submitted for the Lok Sabha elections, Dilip Khedkar had mentioned Manorama Khedkar as his wife. He gave details of jointly owned properties. He also described his family as an undivided Hindu family. Dilip and Manorama Khedkar had filed for divorce by mutual consent in the Pune family court in 2009 and separated on June 25, 2010. Despite their divorce, the couple is said to have lived together in a bungalow in Pune’s Baner area, owned by Manorama Khedkar.
Dilip Khedkar is on bail
A sessions court in Pune had granted anticipatory bail to Dilip Khedkar in July in a criminal intimidation case. During the Lok Sabha elections, Dilip Khedkar had contested as a Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) candidate from Ahmednagar constituency, but he could not win. RTI (Right to Information) activist Vijay Kumbhar wrote on social media platform ‘X’ regarding Khedkar’s marital status, ‘During the Lok Sabha elections, they (Dilip Khedkar and Manorama Khedkar) were married, but when the caste certificate was issued, When the issue came up, he showed both of them as separate and now again Khedkar has shown both of them as separate.
Pooja Khedkar was dismissed
Pooja Khedkar has been accused of committing fraud and unfairly availing the benefit of Other Backward Class (OBC) and Disabled quota to ensure her selection in the service. The Central Government, vide order dated September 6, 2024, relieved him from the Indian Administrative Service under Rule 12 of the IAS (Probationary) Rules, 1954. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) had canceled his candidature on July 31 and debarred him from future examinations.
claim of political dispute
Regarding the controversy surrounding his daughter, he said that this action was politically motivated as some people did not like him contesting the Lok Sabha elections. He said, ‘My daughter was misrepresented and her media trial started immediately after the parliamentary elections were over. As a result my daughter and I had to face a lot of problems. However, I still won’t give in to the pressure. I am contesting elections because it is my right. Dilip Khedkar further said that he has worked hard and made a huge financial contribution towards water conservation in his village, Bhalgaon. For this, he has also received an award in the water conservation scheme started by actor Aamir Khan.
To the Election Commission, raising concerns about the discrepancies in Dilip Khedkar’s disclosures regarding his marital status and the potential misuse of reservation benefits by his daughter Pooja. Kumbhar stated that the situation raises serious questions about the transparency of candidates in the electoral process.
Dilip Khedkar’s decision to run as an independent candidate this time reflects his determination to continue his political aspirations despite previous failures. The Shevgaon seat in Ahilyanagar district will be a significant contest for him, as he aims to regain political ground and address the controversies surrounding his family’s legal troubles and claims.
As the election date approaches, the scrutiny of candidates’ backgrounds, including their affidavits and legal entanglements, remains a focal point in Maharashtra’s political landscape. Voters will likely consider these factors as they head to the polls, assessing not only the candidates’ policy proposals but also their integrity and personal histories.
Lok Sabha elections. I believe there are efforts to tarnish my family’s reputation due to my political ambitions.’ Dilip Khedkar maintains that the allegations against Pooja are unfounded and are part of a larger political strategy to undermine his candidacy.
As Dilip Khedkar embarks on his campaign for the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the circumstances surrounding his family, particularly the claims about his marital status and the controversies involving his daughter, loom large. His decision to not disclose his wife in the current election affidavit raises questions about his true marital status and whether it reflects a change in their relationship or a strategic maneuver in the context of the elections.
While Dilip Khedkar aims to reposition himself in state politics, he faces scrutiny not only for his own past electoral failures but also for the alleged misconduct within his family. As the election draws near, the public will be watching closely how these intricate family dynamics and allegations influence voter perception and Khedkar’s electoral prospects.