Why Congress candidate Meenakshi Natarajan’s Rajya Sabha nomination was rejected?

A massive political row erupted on Tuesday night after Congress Rajya Sabha candidate from Madhya Pradesh Meenakshi Natarajan’s nomination papers were rejected by the returning officer for allegedly concealing facts.

The objection was filed by the BJP, which claimed that Natarajan deliberately concealed information about a court case in her nomination papers.

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According to the BJP, a case is pending against Meenakshi Natarajan in a court in Hyderabad, Telangana, and Natarajan failed to disclose details of it in her nomination documents.

“The Congress candidate had concealed information related to his criminal background, even though the law required him to disclose it as well. Unfortunately, the Congress party attempted to hide this fact from the public. I welcome the decision taken in this matter,” Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav said.

What the returning officer said on rejection of Natarajan’sRajya Sabha nomination?

Upon examination of the records, the returning officer found that Natarajan had indeed failed to mention the said court case in Form 26 (the affidavit), thereby submitting an incomplete affidavit.

“The Hon’ble Court had taken cognisance of the family case filed against Ms. Meenakshi Natarajan. A summons had also been issued requiring her appearance. Therefore, it is established that the case was pending before the court,” according to the returning officer.

This, as per the returning officer, amounted to “withholding complete information about the candidate from voters and furnishing incomplete information.”

“Therefore, in compliance with Chapter 6, Point No. 10(x.iii) of the Returning Officer’s Handbook, the nomination paper submitted by Ms. Meenakshi Natarajan is rejected for non-compliance with the Election Commission of India’s directions,” the returning officer said.

What Congress claims?

However, the Congress has rejected the allegations, claiming that confusion was spread regarding her nomination.

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha said that no criminal case has been registered against Natarajan and that only a notice was issued to her.

“No criminal case has been registered. Only a notice has been received stating why proceedings for Rs 10 crore compensation should not be initiated against her and other people. Meenakshi ji’s lawyer has responded to this notice. No FIR has been filed,” Tankha claimed.

Congress sits on dharna outside Election Commission office in Delhi

A delegation of Congress leaders, led by party general secretary KC Venugopal, reached the Election Commission in New Delhi to file a petition against the rejection of Natarajan’s Rajya Sabha nomination.

However, the delegation was not allowed to meet the EC officials, following which Congress leaders sat on a dharna outside the commission’s office.

“In Madhya Pradesh, the Returning Officer (RO) gave us a time of 5:30 PM, yet the Election Commission office closes at 5:30 PM. If we are dissatisfied with the RO’s decision, we have to submit an application to the Election Commission of India, but here the Commission’s office has closed at 5:30 PM. If we go directly to court, they will tell us to go to the Election Commission. We had to submit the application here, which is why we had to sit on a dharna. No one here is willing to listen to anything,” Congress general secretary and former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel told reporters.

Later, the poll panel allowed two people to come inside and submit their application.