Madhya Pradesh: Congress Rajya Sabha candidate Meenakshi Natarajan’s nomination rejected
BJP leaders had raised objections, alleging that she concealed details of a criminal case in her election affidavit.
The nomination of Meenakshi Natarajan, the Congress’ sole candidate for the June 18 Rajya Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh, was rejected on Tuesday.
This came after the Bharatiya Janata Party’s state general secretary Rahul Kothari raised objections about Natarajan allegedly failing to disclose in her election affidavit details of a criminal case pending against her in Telangana, reported The Indian Express.
The returning officer had sought Natarajan’s response and given her until 6 pm on Tuesday to present her case. After considering her explanation, the officer rejected her nomination, Aaj Tak reported.
Natarajan later alleged at a press conference that the Congress’ advocates “were not heard”, reported PTI.
“What was limited to vote theft, has now become seat theft,” she added.
VIDEO | Rajya Sabha Polls: As her nomination was cancelled in Madhya Pradesh, Congress leader Meenakshi Natarajan says, "When the number of members was not adequate, and the BJP fielded third candidate, it all started from there, and we started to understand that they are doing… pic.twitter.com/cmhViTdb76
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 9, 2026
The 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly is going to elect three members to the Rajya Sabha on June 18. With the Assembly’s effective strength at 229, a candidate requires 58 first-preference votes to win.
Of these seats, the BJP has 164 MLAs excluding the speaker. While the Congress has 63 MLAs, its ally Bharat Adivasi Party one.
The BJP has fielded three candidates – its National General Secretary Tarun Chugh, state unit Secretary Rajneesh Agrawal and Madhya Pradesh Fishermen Welfare Board chairman Mahesh Kewat.
Earlier in the day, the party flew most of its MLAs from Bhopal to Bengaluru, where the Congress is in power, while keeping a few senior legislators back in Madhya Pradesh, where it is in the Opposition.
This came as the BJP’s decision to field a third candidate triggered concerns within the Congress about cross-voting and defections.
The BJP has the numbers to win two of the three seats as it needs 116 votes to do so. However, it will be left with 48 votes that are not sufficient to clinch the third seat.
On Tuesday, the Congress said that no criminal case has been registered against Natarajan. “Only a notice has been received stating why proceedings for 10 crore compensation should not be initiated against her and other people,” said Congress MP Vivek Tankha.
Urging his party colleagues to approach the Supreme Court, he said: “This is nothing but murder of democracy.
Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari accused the BJP of “political-thuggery”.
Former Chief Minister Kamal Nath alleged that the BJP had abandoned “political decency to snatch the Congress seat”.
Written by Sara Varghese. Edited by Sneha.
