ECI rejects Natarajan RS bid; Congress moves SC

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday upheld the Returning Officer’s decision to reject the Rajya Sabha nomination of Congress candidate Meenakshi Natarajan from Madhya Pradesh, prompting the party to announce that it will challenge the decision in the Supreme Court.

A 10-member Congress delegation met Election Commission officials in New Delhi and sought intervention in the matter. The delegation included senior leaders Abhishek Manu Singhvi, K.C. Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh, Randeep Surjewala, Sachin Pilot, Bhupesh Baghel and Vivek Tankha.

According to Congress leaders, after hearing arguments from the party delegation, the Election Commission reserved its decision for about two hours. At around 5.30 pm, the Commission informed the party that it found no fault with the Returning Officer’s order and upheld the rejection of Natarajan’s nomination. Addressing the media after the meeting, Singhvi said the Returning Officer’s decision was legally unsustainable and based on grounds not recognised under election law. He argued that Natarajan was not required to disclose the matter cited against her because it was not a criminal case.

According to Singhvi, the Hyderabad court had merely issued a notice seeking her response on whether further proceedings should be initiated, and no criminal charges had been framed against her. The controversy began after election officials rejected Natarajan’s nomination during scrutiny, citing alleged irregularities in her affidavit. The BJP had objected to her nomination, alleging that she failed to disclose details of a matter pending before a Hyderabad court.

With the Election Commission refusing to overturn the Returning Officer’s order, Congress leaders said the party would now approach the Supreme Court seeking relief. The party maintains that the rejection of its candidate’s nomination is contrary to law and has described the decision as an attack on democratic principles.

Meanwhile, Congress workers continued protests in Bhopal, accusing the BJP of influencing the electoral process and alleging that the Rajya Sabha seat had been unfairly taken away from the opposition.