Rajya Sabha polls MP: Congress shows unity, Singhar says BJP's 3rd candidate no threat
Synopsis
Congress in Madhya Pradesh closed ranks at an emergency CLP meeting in Bhopal, with LoP Umang Singhar publicly brushing aside the threat of a BJP third candidate in the Rajya Sabha race. With only 62 MLAs against BJP's 165, the party's entire strategy hinges on zero defections — and Saturday's show of unity was as much a warning to potential cross-voters as it was a message to the BJP.
Key Takeaways
LoP Umang Singhar declared all Congress MLAs united behind Rajya Sabha nominee Meenakshi Natarajan after a CLP meeting on 6 June in Bhopal .
Singhar said a possible BJP third candidate would make 'no difference' to the electoral outcome.
Congress accused the BJP of spreading cross-voting rumours to create fear ahead of the polls.
The 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly has 165 BJP MLAs vs 62 Congress MLAs (two Congress members disqualified).
BJP nominees Tarun Chugh and Rajneesh Agrawal filed nominations on 6 June ; Natarajan is set to file on 8 June .
The CLP meeting was attended by former CMs Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh , among other senior leaders.
Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar on Saturday, 6 June declared that Congress legislators in Madhya Pradesh stand unanimously behind Rajya Sabha nominee Meenakshi Natarajan, dismissing the prospect of a third Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate as inconsequential to the final result. The assertion came after a Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting at party headquarters Indira Bhavan in Bhopal.
What the CLP Meeting Resolved
Addressing reporters after the meeting, Singhar was unequivocal: 'Today's meeting made it clear that all Congress MLAs are united and committed to sending Meenakshi Natarajan to the Rajya Sabha. Even if the BJP fields a third candidate, it will make no difference.' The session was attended by State Congress President Jitu Patwari, state party in-charge Harish Chaudhary, former Chief Ministers Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh, Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha, Congress Working Committee members, senior office-bearers, and party MLAs.
Congress Hits Back at Cross-Voting Speculation
Singhar directly accused the BJP of manufacturing fear by circulating rumours of cross-voting ahead of the polls. 'The BJP is merely spreading rumours about cross-voting in an attempt to create fear, but they will not succeed. This was firmly established during today's meeting,' he said. The charge follows recent remarks by senior BJP leader and state Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, who had claimed BJP workers could deliver victory for a third party candidate if the leadership chose to field one.
The Numbers Behind the Contest
The BJP holds a commanding majority in the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly with 165 MLAs, giving it a comfortable path to winning two of the three Rajya Sabha seats falling vacant from the state. The Congress, with 62 legislators — two members, Mukesh Malhotra and Rajendra Bharti, having been disqualified — is banking on Natarajan for the remaining seat. BJP nominees Tarun Chugh and Rajneesh Agrawal filed their nomination papers in Bhopal on Saturday in the presence of senior party leaders.
Congress Strategy and Next Steps
State Congress President Patwari confirmed that the CLP meeting had finalised the party's electoral strategy. 'The Congress is committed to ensuring the election of Meenakshi Natarajan to the Rajya Sabha. Detailed discussions were held regarding the election strategy and the future course of action,' he said. Senior leaders present also stressed the need for organisational unity ahead of the vote. Natarajan is scheduled to file her nomination on 8 June.
Why This Contest Matters
The Rajya Sabha election in Madhya Pradesh is as much a test of Congress cohesion as it is an arithmetic exercise. With the party reduced to a rump in the state Assembly following successive electoral setbacks, holding its flock together against any BJP inducement is a political imperative. Notably, the Congress's public display of unity — bringing together rival factions under Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh in the same room — signals an attempt to project organisational discipline ahead of broader electoral cycles. Whether that unity holds through polling day remains to be seen.
Point of View
And the CLP meeting was the Congress's only available counter. The optics of Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh sharing a platform matter, but factional loyalties in Madhya Pradesh Congress have historically frayed under electoral stress. The real test is not Saturday's meeting but what happens in the voting booth.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sabha election about?
Three Rajya Sabha seats from Madhya Pradesh are falling vacant, triggering an election among state Assembly MLAs. The BJP, with 165 MLAs in the 230-member house, is comfortably positioned to win two seats, while Congress — with 62 MLAs — is backing former state unit chief Meenakshi Natarajan for the third.
Who is Meenakshi Natarajan and when does she file her nomination?
Meenakshi Natarajan is the Congress candidate for the Rajya Sabha election in Madhya Pradesh and a former state unit chief of the party. She is scheduled to file her nomination papers on 8 June.
Why is the BJP's possible third candidate significant?
Senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya had suggested the party could field a third candidate and still win, given its commanding 165-MLA majority. Congress LoP Umang Singhar dismissed this, saying it would make 'no difference,' but the remark has fuelled speculation about cross-voting among Congress MLAs.
Who attended the Congress Legislature Party meeting in Bhopal?
The CLP meeting at Indira Bhavan on 6 June was attended by State Congress President Jitu Patwari, party in-charge Harish Chaudhary, former Chief Ministers Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh, Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha, Congress Working Committee members, and party MLAs.
What is the current strength of Congress in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly?
Congress has 62 MLAs in the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly. Two Congress legislators — Mukesh Malhotra and Rajendra Bharti — have been disqualified, reducing the party's effective strength from its earlier count.
