ElectionCommission – Congress Challenges Rejection of Meenakshi Natarajan’s Rajya Sabha Nomination
ElectionCommission – Congress leader Meenakshi Natarajan on Wednesday reaffirmed her confidence in India’s constitutional framework after her nomination for the Rajya Sabha election from Madhya Pradesh was rejected. Her remarks came a day after a delegation of senior Congress leaders met officials of the Election Commission in New Delhi to seek intervention in the matter.
Congress Awaits Election Commission’s Response
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Natarajan said the party had placed all relevant facts before the Election Commission and was now waiting for its decision. She maintained that the Congress continues to trust democratic institutions and believes that the electoral process should function fairly and transparently.
According to her, the party remains committed to pursuing the matter through constitutional and legal channels. She added that senior legal representatives had presented detailed arguments before the Commission in support of her candidature.
Senior Congress Leaders Raise Concerns
The Congress delegation that met Election Commission officials included several prominent leaders such as KC Venugopal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Jairam Ramesh, Randeep Singh Surjewala, Vivek Tankha, Digvijaya Singh and Bhupesh Baghel.
The party sought urgent examination of the Returning Officer’s decision, arguing that the rejection of Natarajan’s nomination was not supported by law. Congress leaders requested the Commission to review the circumstances and take appropriate action before the Rajya Sabha polling process moves forward.
Legal Objections to the Rejection
After the meeting, senior advocate and Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi strongly questioned the Returning Officer’s order. He argued that the decision was based on an incorrect understanding of the legal provisions governing candidate disclosures.
Singhvi stated that the nomination was rejected on grounds that, according to the party, do not meet the requirements laid down under Section 33A of the Representation of the People Act. He explained that candidates are required to disclose only those criminal cases in which a court has formally framed charges and where the alleged offence carries a punishment exceeding two years.
Dispute Over Interpretation of Law
The Congress leader further argued that the case referred to against Natarajan had not even reached the stage where a court had taken cognizance. Therefore, he maintained that using it as a basis for rejecting the nomination lacked legal justification.
According to Singhvi, the facts and legal position were clearly presented before Election Commission officials during the meeting. He expressed confidence that a careful examination of the matter would support the party’s position.
Demand for Immediate Intervention
The Congress also urged the Election Commission to exercise its constitutional authority under Article 324. Party leaders pointed to previous instances in which the poll body had stepped in to address disputes involving rejected nominations during elections in other states.
They argued that similar intervention would help ensure fairness and protect the integrity of the electoral process in the present case.
Election Commission Reviews Matter
Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal said Election Commission officials had assured the delegation that the issue would be examined. While no immediate decision was announced, the party indicated that it expects the Commission to review the matter carefully before the election.
The controversy emerged after Natarajan’s nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha biennial election from Madhya Pradesh were rejected on Tuesday. Voting for the seat is scheduled to take place on June 18, making the Commission’s response significant for the ongoing electoral process.