BREAKING: Edison Mayor Poses with Marxist Leader in India — Calls It “Economic Development”

Edison, NJ — Edison residents were surprised to see Mayor Sam Joshi appear in a photo during Governor Phil Murphy’s recent trade mission to India, smiling and shaking hands with Pinarayi Vijayan, the Chief Minister of Kerala and a senior leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). This is not a routine business meeting. Vijayan leads a party that follows Marxist-Leninist ideology, has supported revolutionary movements, and strongly opposes capitalist economic systems. He is not a trade partner or investor. He is one of the most ideological political figures in India.

For many Indian Americans, this choice of meeting is not a neutral act. Vijayan’s party has been at the center of intense political divisions in India for decades. His government has often taken positions that clash with the values and beliefs of large parts of the Indian diaspora. Vijayan is a fierce critic of India’s Prime Minister. He has demanded action against Modi for “anti-Muslim remarks” (Mathrubhumi) and criticized him for glorifying the RSS in national speeches (The Hindu). His leadership is a symbol of a specific political movement in India, not a source of private sector investment.

This trip was supposed to bring economic opportunities to Edison. Instead, Joshi used it to stage a publicity moment with a figure whose politics deeply divide Indian society. That decision sends a message, whether he admits it or not. Many Indians view the Communist Party of India (Marxist) as hostile to private enterprise, to religious communities they identify with, and to the vision of India supported by millions of families here and abroad. Standing side by side with Vijayan during an official delegation is not something Edison’s mayor can brush off as harmless diplomacy.

If Joshi had secured real business deals or investment partnerships, that would be different. He has not presented any agreements, new jobs, or tangible benefits for Edison. What he offered instead is a photo opportunity with a Marxist leader that many in the Indian community would find alarming. Edison residents, especially Indian Americans who understand the political weight of this image, have every right to ask why their mayor chose this meeting and whose interests it truly serves.