The Congress on Wednesday mounted a coordinated attack against the rejection of Meenakshi Natarajan’s nomination for the Rajya Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh, taking the matter to the Election Commission and alleging that the Returning Officer’s decision was legally unsustainable and contrary to democratic principles.
The controversy has emerged just days before polling for the Rajya Sabha biennial elections on June 18, with the Congress seeking urgent intervention from the Election Commission and warning that it will pursue both legal and political remedies if corrective action is not taken.
A delegation comprising senior Congress leaders, including KC Venugopal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Jairam Ramesh, Randeep Singh Surjewala, Vivek Tankha, Digvijaya Singh, Bhupesh Baghel and Natarajan, met Election Commission officials in New Delhi and pressed for a review of the Returning Officer’s order.
Speaking after the meeting, Natarajan said the party continued to place its faith in constitutional institutions.
“We still have full hope in constitutional institutions, and that’s why we are fighting this battle. The Election Commission has heard our case today, and now we are waiting. We are in our fight. We still believe, somewhere or the other, that some form of democratic integrity remains in a democracy,” she said.
She added that the Congress legal team had placed its arguments before the poll panel and would continue to pursue the matter through established democratic processes.
Congress questions legal basis of rejection
Leading the party’s legal argument, Congress MP and senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi described the Returning Officer’s decision as a serious misreading of the law.
“We have told them, and we have demonstrated, according to us, beyond doubt and beyond any matter of controversy, that the RO has passed a perverse order. An order akin to writing 2+2=7, not 4,” Singhvi said.
According to Singhvi, the rejection stemmed from an incorrect application of Section 33A of the Representation of the People Act. He argued that the provision requires disclosure only in cases where charges have been formally framed by a court and the alleged offence carries a punishment of more than two years.
The Congress leader maintained that the matter cited against Natarajan had not even reached the stage of cognisance.
“Ms Natarajan only received a notice to appear before the court and explain why cognisance should not be taken. That means the notice was issued before any cognisance was taken. Without cognisance, no criminal case exists in the eyes of the law,” he said.
Singhvi urged the Election Commission to use its powers under Article 324 of the Constitution to provide immediate relief, citing previous instances where the poll body had intervened in disputes involving rejected nominations.
Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal said the Election Commission had assured the delegation that the matter would be examined.
“They told that they will look into it,” Venugopal said.
Congress leaders allege democratic norms under strain
The issue also triggered sharp political reactions from Congress leaders across the country.
Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh termed the rejection “unconstitutional” and alleged bias on the part of the Returning Officer.
“This is certainly an unconstitutional and illegal decision, showing clear bias by the returning officer. Both legal and political steps will be taken,” he said in Bhopal.
Madhya Pradesh Congress MLA Jaivardhan Singh argued that the notice cited against Natarajan did not amount to a criminal case and therefore could not have formed the basis for rejecting her nomination.
In Karnataka, state minister Priyank Kharge accused the Election Commission of functioning in line with the ruling dispensation rather than the Constitution.
“There is a process to hear out the concerned applicant. It is clear that the way things are working in the democracy is as per the ruling dispensation and not the Constitution of India,” he said.
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy also criticised the rejection, alleging that the BJP was resorting to “seat chori” after “vote chori and SIR”.
“This is an assault on democracy. People’s voices are being stifled. This is a dark day for Indian democracy and needs to be condemned by all citizens. We will all fight for justice,” he said in a post on X.
Congress leaders Sachin Pilot, KC Venugopal and Jairam Ramesh also questioned the decision, with Venugopal calling it a “blatant attempt” to undermine the democratic process.
Rajya Sabha polls scheduled on June 18
The row began after Natarajan’s nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha biennial elections from Madhya Pradesh were rejected on Tuesday. Electoral authorities cited irregularities in her affidavit.
The BJP has fielded Tarun Chugh, Rajneesh Agarwal and Mahesh Kewat for the three Rajya Sabha seats from Madhya Pradesh.
Polling is scheduled to be held on June 18.