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NORTH AmERIcAN Newsline MARCH 26, 2021 | The Indian Eye 27

robert Karabinchak might pull back

endorsement of mahesh Bhagia for mayor

Our Bureau Lankey has kept the door open to either

Edison, NJ running in the Democratic primary or seek-
ing re-election in November as an indepen-
ssemblyman Robert Karabinchak dent.
(D-Edison) says that a document Bhagia has close ties to the Edison
Asubpoena and a grand jury probe Eight, a group implicated last year in a
into a racist flyer in a 2017 local campaign conspiracy scandal involving an alleged-
could mean a retraction of his endorsement ly fake racist flyer aimed at inciting the
of Mahesh Bhagia for the Democratic nom- township’s Asian American community
ination for mayor of Edison. in a 2017 school board race. His broth-
The New Jersey Globe reported on Fri- er, Raj Bhagia, is one of the Edison Eight.
day that the state attorney general’s office has The Edison Eight: Councilman Ayjay
opened an investigation into the 40-month- Patil; Board of Education President Jer-
old cold case. “It puts my endorsement in justice prevail,” Karabinchak said. “I’m going ry Shi; Wilentz law firm partner and Biden
question, yes,” Karabinchak said. “It defi- to support the Attorney General and will stand delegate Satish Poondi; former Democratic
nitely does.” with the Asian community to find justice.” Municipal Chairman Shariq Ahmad; appar-
Councilman Ajay Patil has fingered Bha- Earlier in February, Democratic Munic- ent school board member-elect Mohin Patel;
gia as one of the masterminds behind a mail- ipal Chairman Mahesh Bhagia captured the Aloysius Dsouza; Joseph Dsouza; Bhagia
er that promised to “Make Edison Great endorsement of his local Democratic county and Shi – face a possible criminal investiga-
Again,” and alleging that the “Chinese and committee for as a candidate for mayor. The tion after they allegedly circulated a racist
Indians are taking over our town.” Democratic incumbent, Thomas Lankey, mailer.
Karabinchak endorsed Bhagia, the Edison and Councilman Sammy Joshi, did not com- The mailer – “Make Edison Great Again”
Democratic municipal chairman, yesterday. pete at the party’s convention on Wednesday – urged voters to “Stop Jerry Shi and Falguni
“The most important thing is I want to see evening. Patel from taking over our school board.”