Bhopal/New Delhi: The MP Rajya Sabha polls ended with the BJP securing all three seats unopposed after the nomination of Congress candidate Meenakshi Natarajan was rejected. The development triggered a fresh political confrontation, with the Congress approaching the Supreme Court and accusing the BJP and the Election Commission of acting unfairly.
The Election Commission on Thursday issued certificates of election to BJP candidates Rajneesh Agrawal, Tarun Chugh and Mahesh Kewat. Their victory came after Natarajan’s nomination was rejected during scrutiny on June 9.
Congress leaders strongly criticised the outcome. Speaking after a meeting attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi, the party alleged that different standards had been applied to candidates during the scrutiny process.
Rahul Gandhi claimed that the rejection of Meenakshi Natarajan’s nomination amounted to “seat theft” and questioned the conduct of the Election Commission. He alleged that a BJP-backed candidate was given an opportunity to correct errors, while the Congress candidate was not.
The Congress moved the Supreme Court challenging the rejection of Natarajan’s nomination. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued that the matter required urgent hearing because the election process had reached its final stage.
The court, however, deferred the hearing to Friday. Congress also requested that the election result should not be declared until the matter was heard. The party argued that the Returning Officer’s decision was arbitrary and legally unsustainable.
Congress general secretary K C Venugopal said the party would continue its legal and political fight. He maintained that Natarajan’s nomination was rejected on incorrect grounds and described the decision as harmful to democratic processes.
Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar also questioned why the Election Commission did not intervene despite representations from the Congress. He alleged that the commission had acted differently in similar cases in other states.
The controversy centres on objections raised by BJP leaders regarding information disclosed in Natarajan’s election affidavit. The BJP argued that details relating to a legal matter in Telangana had not been properly disclosed.
Congress rejected the allegation and said there was no criminal case pending against Natarajan. According to the party, the Telangana matter involved only a court notice arising from a private complaint and did not amount to a pending criminal case requiring disclosure in the affidavit.
Former Chief Minister Kamal Nath described the outcome as a betrayal of democratic values, while Congress workers staged protests in several cities, including Bhopal and Jabalpur.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders defended the process and said the election had been conducted according to established rules. Party leaders maintained that any candidate who fails to provide required information must face the consequences under election law.
With the Supreme Court set to hear the matter on Friday, the political battle over the MP Rajya Sabha polls is likely to continue even after the declaration of results. The case could have wider implications for the interpretation of nomination disclosure rules in future elections.
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