Congress's Meenakshi Natarajan RS nomination rejected over affidavit issue
Meenakshi Natarajan, a Congress candidate for the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh, had her nomination rejected due to allegations of concealing information about a pending court case in Telangana in her affidavit. This led to a political controversy, with the Congress terming it 'dictatorship' and the BJP securing all three seats unopposed.
Key Highlights
- Congress candidate Meenakshi Natarajan's RS nomination rejected by Returning Officer.
- Allegations of concealing information about a Telangana court case in affidavit.
- Supreme Court dismissed Natarajan's plea, directing her to file an election petition.
- BJP candidates declared unopposed winners for all three Rajya Sabha seats from MP.
- Congress protests the rejection, calling it a subversion of democracy.
The Rajya Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh took a dramatic turn with the rejection of Congress candidate Meenakshi Natarajan's nomination papers. The Returning Officer, Arvind Sharma, disqualified Natarajan's candidature on June 9, 2026, citing that she had failed to disclose details of a pending private criminal complaint filed against her in Telangana in her election affidavit (Form 26). The BJP had raised an objection to her nomination, alleging concealment of material facts. Specifically, the complaint, filed by an ex-corporator in Hyderabad in September 2025, involved a notice issued to Natarajan under Section 223 of the BNSS (Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita). The Returning Officer's order noted that Natarajan had filed a reply in October 2025, which indicated her knowledge of the proceedings, thus establishing that she had submitted an incomplete affidavit. This decision led to the BJP candidates, Tarun Chugh, Rajneesh Agrawal, and Mahesh Kevat, being declared unopposed winners for all three Rajya Sabha seats from Madhya Pradesh on June 12, 2026, as no other valid nominations remained. The rejection sparked a strong reaction from the Congress party, which accused the ruling BJP and the Election Commission of undermining democratic principles, with senior leaders protesting outside the ECI office in New Delhi and calling the move a 'dictatorship' and a 'theft' of the Rajya Sabha seat. Meenakshi Natarajan herself termed the rejection as an act of 'dictatorship'. The Congress argued that the Telangana case did not constitute a formal criminal proceeding requiring mandatory disclosure under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, as charges had not been framed and the imprisonment term for the alleged offense was not clearly defined as per their interpretation. However, the Returning Officer's order stated that Natarajan's knowledge of the summons and her subsequent reply proved her deliberate omission. Natarajan approached the Supreme Court challenging the rejection, but on June 12, 2026, a bench comprising Justices P.K. Mishra and A.S. Chandurkar dismissed her writ petition. The Supreme Court cited constitutional bar under Article 329(b) of the Constitution, which restricts judicial interference in election processes except through an election petition. The court granted her liberty to pursue her challenge through an election petition in the appropriate High Court. Subsequently, Natarajan filed an election petition before the Madhya Pradesh High Court. The entire episode highlighted the complexities of election law and the scrutiny of candidate affidavits, and also brought to the fore alleged internal factionalism within the Madhya Pradesh Congress unit, with questions raised about candidate management and coordination. The news is specific to India and falls under the 'Politics' category. The initial reporting by The New Indian Express, as indicated by its publication date, was around June 9, 2026. The story remains relevant as it touches upon electoral processes and political integrity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Meenakshi Natarajan's Rajya Sabha nomination rejected?
Meenakshi Natarajan's nomination was rejected by the Returning Officer because she allegedly failed to disclose details of a pending criminal case in Telangana in her election affidavit (Form 26), which is a mandatory requirement.
What was the Congress party's reaction to the rejection?
The Congress party strongly condemned the rejection, terming it 'dictatorship' and a 'subversion of democracy'. They staged protests and accused the Election Commission and BJP of unfair practices.
What was the outcome of the Rajya Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh after the rejection?
Following the rejection of Meenakshi Natarajan's nomination, the three BJP candidates for the Rajya Sabha seats from Madhya Pradesh were declared elected unopposed.
Did Meenakshi Natarajan get any relief from the Supreme Court?
The Supreme Court dismissed Meenakshi Natarajan's writ petition challenging the rejection of her nomination. The court directed her to pursue her case through an election petition in the High Court, citing constitutional bars on judicial interference during the election process.