At the age of 63, Deepak Joshi, son of former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kailash Joshi, tied the knot with Bhopal resident Pallavi Saxena. When the wedding photos surfaced, it became the talk of the town, with several other women claiming to be Deepak Joshi’s wives.
Deepak Joshi is not just the son of former CM Kailash Joshi, but he also served as a minister in Shivraj Singh’s government. Recently, his political and personal life has frequently been in the spotlight. In an exclusive conversation with AajTak, his wife Pallavi Saxena unveiled the secrets of this marriage. She also shared some wedding photos with AajTak.
In her conversation with AajTak, Pallavi Saxena, Deepak Joshi's wife, expressed deep distress and disturbance over the sudden controversy involving their family. She never imagined that their private life would become a subject of such public debate.
She clarified that after Deepak Joshi’s first wife, the late Vijaya Didi, passed away, he married her and accepted her as his wife.
Source: aajtak
Pallavi mentioned that the claims regarding Namrata Joshi and Shikha Mitra have many inconsistencies. Shikha Mitra speaks of a marriage in 2016, while Deepak Joshi's first wife, Vijaya Didi, passed away only in 2021 during COVID.
During 2018-19, Shikha's husband, Gautam Mitra, was present in her life. Regarding Namrata Joshi, Pallavi explained that her marriage is said to have been registered in 2021, but she never appeared publicly and remains in her parental home.
Source: aajtak
She revealed that Deepak Joshi had filed for divorce in the court, a fact he had informed her about. She stated that if someone were a valid wife, they would be at home, not absconding. Pallavi insisted that her relationship with Deepak Joshi began with the mutual agreement of both families since February.
Elders from Deepak Joshi's family came to her house with the marriage proposal, and her father Gulabchand Tamot, who has been a PS, arranged the alliance. The traditional turmeric and mehendi ceremonies took place at home, followed by a wedding on December 4th at the Arya Samaj Temple in Bhopal.
Kamal Nath Is My Leader - Pallavi Saxena
Amid questions about her connection with Congress, Pallavi stated she is with Congress, and her revered leader is Kamal Nath Ji. She added that on her wedding day, Kamal Nath Ji extended his blessings. Recently, she visited his residence to wish him on his birthday.
'Never Met Deepak Ji While in Congress'
Pallavi disclosed that during a paralysis attack, when her son was in the 10th grade, she had not met Deepak Joshi, who later joined Congress. Their first encounter was at an event, yet they didn't speak. Elders from Deepak's family initiated further interactions in February of this year.
Married at Bhopal Arya Samaj Temple - Pallavi
Regarding the viral wedding photographs, Pallavi acknowledged they are from the Arya Samaj Temple. The wedding took place on December 4, 2025, in the presence of family, friends, and relatives. She remarked that due to harassment and obscene comments from Shikha Mitra—which led to sharing the photos on social media—she removed them and lodged complaints with ACP Sujeet Mishra at the crime branch alongside legal notices and reports to Shahpura Police Station and Cyber Crime.
On the marriage's privacy issues, Pallavi explained, “A wedding is never private, but due to certain circumstances, a reception was not planned. On the wedding day, her father suffered a paralysis attack.”
On December 6, Namrata Joshi unexpectedly visited Deepak Joshi’s household, issued threats, and behaved rudely with kids and servants, prompting a complaint to SP Devas and the station head was filed by Deepak Joshi. Concerning the divorce topic, Pallavi pointed out that cases already exist against women who are fugitives—how can they claim to be lawful spouses? Namrat Joshi faces charges, including those under the IT Act, and an arrest warrant was issued on December 17, 2025.
'Deepak Rescued Me from Depression'
Pallavi praised Deepak Joshi as a gentle, honest man who respects women. She credited him for rescuing her from the anguish of a 17-year-old divorce and never letting her feel depressed throughout their 11-month journey. On the age question, she asserted, “When hearts and minds align, age is irrelevant. It's about the mental and emotional union of two families.”
The Congress leader mentioned that her son Sahib Saxena sees Deepak Joshi as a father figure, and Deepak's children accept her as a mother. Post-marriage, she’s visited Devas (her in-laws) a few times but couldn’t stay long due to her father’s health. About the marriage, she remarked that the family is joyful but admits there are minor mental challenges, which she believes will resolve legally.
Both Support Each Other
Pallavi shared that she battles diabetes and has experienced cervical and paralysis issues, and Deepak Joshi too is diabetic. They have become pillars of support for each other. She presented the marriage certificate and expressed her desire to live in both Devas and Bhopal. Ultimately, she appealed for their marriage to remain undisturbed by politics, emphasizing it as a family-level union, with their aim to lead a peaceful, personal life.
