MP Rajya Sabha Nomination Row Deepens After Natarajan’s Papers Rejected
The Rajya Sabha election in Madhya Pradesh has turned into a major political flashpoint after Congress candidate Meenakshi Natarajan’s nomination was rejected over an affidavit-related issue, giving the BJP a possible edge in the battle for the third seat.
The rejection has triggered a fresh BJP-Congress confrontation, with Congress calling it “seat theft” and “murder of democracy”, while BJP leaders have defended the decision as a document-based issue linked to election affidavit rules.
Senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya added another twist by claiming that documents related to the objection came from Telangana, a state ruled by the Congress. His remarks have further intensified the political row ahead of the June 18 Rajya Sabha polls.
Nomination Rejected Over Affidavit Issue
Natarajan was the Congress candidate for one of the three Rajya Sabha seats from Madhya Pradesh. Her papers were rejected after an objection alleged that she had not mentioned a court-related matter from Telangana in the affidavit submitted with her nomination.
The BJP objection was reportedly filed by Mahesh Kewat, the party’s candidate for the third seat. After examining the available documents and hearing arguments from both sides, the returning officer rejected the nomination.
Congress Calls It ‘Seat Theft’
The Congress reacted sharply and said the decision was not just a technical rejection, but an attempt to deny the opposition its rightful contest. Party leaders accused the BJP of using the election process to gain an advantage in the Upper House contest.
Senior Congress leaders staged protests in Bhopal and New Delhi, while the party indicated that legal options could be explored. Leaders also demanded that election authorities review the decision.
BJP Defends Decision
The BJP rejected the Congress allegations and argued that the nomination affidavit rules apply equally to every candidate. Vijayvargiya claimed the BJP did not originally have the information and suggested that documents came from Congress-linked sources in Telangana.
His remarks have added more political heat to the issue, with Congress leaders denying the charge and defending Natarajan.
Why The Third Seat Matters
The controversy is important because Madhya Pradesh has three vacant Rajya Sabha seats. The BJP was already comfortable for two seats, while the Congress had a numerical advantage for the third seat. With Natarajan’s nomination rejected, the BJP’s chances of winning all three seats have improved.
The BJP has fielded Tarun Chugh, Rajneesh Agarwal, and Mahesh Kewat. The Congress was depending on Natarajan to contest the third seat and prevent the BJP from a clean sweep.
Political Battle May Continue
The issue is likely to remain a major talking point until the Rajya Sabha election process is complete. For the Congress, the row has become a larger fight over democracy and electoral fairness. For the BJP, the issue is being projected as a case of incomplete disclosure in nomination papers.
With the June 18 polls approaching, the rejected nomination has turned a routine Rajya Sabha contest into a high-stakes political showdown in Madhya Pradesh.
