Congress leader Meenakshi Natarajan on Tuesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of manipulating the Rajya Sabha election process in Madhya Pradesh after her nomination was rejected over the alleged non-disclosure of a court matter in Telangana.
Addressing the media, Natarajan claimed the controversy began when the BJP fielded a third Rajya Sabha candidate despite not having the required numbers in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly. She alleged that the ruling party initially hoped to secure victory through cross-voting and political defections but changed strategy after failing to break Congress unity.
“When the BJP saw that the entire Congress legislature party was united and all MLAs were standing together, they came up with a fabricated issue to counter us,” she said.
NOT A CRIMINAL CASE: NATARAJAN
Natarajan maintained that the matter cited against her was merely a legal notice and not a criminal case. According to her, the court had not taken cognisance of the complaint and no formal case had been registered. She argued that there was no requirement to disclose such a notice in her nomination affidavit.
“If there had been a criminal case in which the court had taken cognisance or charges had been framed against me, then it would be fair to say that information was concealed. But when no case exists, how can anyone claim that I hid anything?” she asked.
The Congress leader further alleged that the Returning Officer’s final order ignored the arguments presented by her legal team. Describing the episode as politically motivated, she said, “This was not a legal battle that we lost. It was a battle lost against political will.”
Natarajan accused the BJP of attempting to undermine democratic institutions and alleged that the Election Commission had acted in favour of the ruling party. She linked the dispute to what she described as a broader fight to protect democracy, federalism and the constitutional values championed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
CM MOHAN YADAV WELCOMES THE DECISION OF NOMINATION CANCELLATION
The BJP, however, defended the rejection of her nomination. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said candidates are legally required to disclose all pending criminal matters in their affidavits.
“The information deliberately withheld by the Congress candidate amounts to concealment of a criminal record,” Yadav said. Welcoming the decision of election authorities, he argued that voters have a right to know all relevant details about candidates seeking public office.
The dispute has intensified the political battle over the June 18 Rajya Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh, where the rejection of Natarajan’s nomination has significantly altered the electoral equation.
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