Meenakshi Natarajan's RS nomination rejected in MP; Congress protests BJP 'foul play'
Synopsis
Just as Congress legislators were boarding a flight to Bengaluru ahead of the June 18 Rajya Sabha vote, the Returning Officer in Madhya Pradesh invalidated Meenakshi Natarajan's nomination on BJP objections. Congress insists no FIR exists — only a civil notice — and has accused the BJP of coordinated procedural sabotage to flip a seat it cannot win on numbers alone.
Key Takeaways
The Returning Officer in Madhya Pradesh declared Meenakshi Natarajan's Rajya Sabha nomination invalid on 9 June , acting on BJP objections.
The Rajya Sabha election in the state is scheduled for 18 June .
Senior Congress leader Vivek Tankha clarified that no FIR has been registered against Natarajan — only a notice over a ₹10 crore compensation recovery proceeding.
Former Chief Minister Kamal Nath alleged the BJP used 'undemocratic tactics,' including delaying take-off clearance for a Congress legislators' flight to Bengaluru .
Approximately 45 Congress members had already departed on a special flight before the rejection was announced.
The Congress is expected to challenge the rejection before the Election Commission of India .
A sharp political controversy gripped Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday, 9 June after the Returning Officer declared the Rajya Sabha nomination of Congress candidate Meenakshi Natarajan invalid, acting on objections raised by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders. The rejection has added fresh uncertainty to the state's Rajya Sabha election scheduled for 18 June and triggered an immediate and furious response from the Congress camp.
How the Controversy Unfolded
The development came at a particularly charged moment: approximately 45 Congress legislators and members had already boarded a special flight from Bhopal to Bengaluru as part of the party's pre-poll strategy, while a second batch of senior leaders was still preparing to depart. News of the nomination's rejection reached the remaining group before they could leave, throwing the Congress camp into disarray.
Former Chief Minister Kamal Nath further alleged that the flight carrying Congress legislators faced deliberate delays in receiving take-off clearance, and accused BJP leaders of staging a commotion inside the Assembly premises in a coordinated bid to disrupt the opposition's preparations.
What Congress Says About the Rejection
Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha strongly contested the grounds cited for the objection, asserting that misinformation was being actively circulated about Natarajan's candidature. Tankha clarified that no criminal case had been registered against her.
According to Tankha, the matter pertained solely to a notice asking why proceedings for recovery of ₹10 crore in compensation should not be initiated against Natarajan and several others — a civil-administrative proceeding, not a criminal one. He added that Natarajan's lawyer had already filed a reply to the notice and that no FIR had been lodged. 'Confusion is being deliberately created about Meenakshi Natarajan's nomination. There is no registered criminal case against her. A notice was merely issued seeking an explanation, and a response has already been filed. No FIR has been registered,' Tankha posted on X.
Kamal Nath Alleges 'Undemocratic Tactics'
Kamal Nath accused the BJP of attempting to capture a Congress Rajya Sabha seat through what he called 'undemocratic tactics,' alleging that the ruling party was using administrative and procedural manoeuvres to derail the opposition's campaign. 'The BJP is bent on violating all political norms to snatch the Congress party's Rajya Sabha seat in Madhya Pradesh. However, the Congress will not be intimidated by such tactics, and the BJP will face a humiliating defeat,' Nath said.
This comes amid an intensifying battle over legislator numbers and party strategy in the run-up to the 18 June polls. The Congress's decision to relocate its MLAs to Bengaluru reflects concerns about poaching — a tactic that has featured in several past Rajya Sabha contests in India.
What Happens Next
The Congress is expected to mount a legal and procedural challenge to the rejection. The validity of Natarajan's nomination and the Returning Officer's ruling are likely to face scrutiny before the Election Commission of India (ECI). With the election just days away, the outcome of any appeal will be critical to determining whether the Congress retains its candidate on the ballot.
Point of View
Because if the BJP's objection hinges on a civil notice rather than a registered criminal case, as Tankha argues, the rejection looks procedurally thin. What this episode also reveals is how Rajya Sabha contests in India have evolved into full-spectrum political warfare — flight delays, Assembly commotion, nomination challenges — well beyond the arithmetic of first-preference votes. The Congress's Bengaluru gambit signals deep distrust of its own numbers on the ground in Bhopal, and the BJP's aggressive procedural play suggests it shares that assessment.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Meenakshi Natarajan's Rajya Sabha nomination rejected in Madhya Pradesh?
The Returning Officer declared Natarajan's nomination invalid following objections raised by BJP leaders ahead of the June 18 Rajya Sabha election. The BJP's objection reportedly related to a ₹10 crore compensation recovery notice issued against her, though Congress insists no FIR has been registered and the matter is purely civil in nature.
What is the Congress's response to the nomination rejection?
Senior Congress leader Vivek Tankha disputed the grounds, clarifying that no criminal case exists against Natarajan and that her lawyer had already replied to the notice. Former Chief Minister Kamal Nath accused the BJP of using 'undemocratic tactics' and vowed the party would not be intimidated.
When is the Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sabha election scheduled?
The Rajya Sabha election in Madhya Pradesh is scheduled for 18 June. The Congress had already begun relocating its legislators to Bengaluru as a protective measure when news of the nomination rejection broke.
Why did Congress send its legislators to Bengaluru?
Congress moved approximately 45 of its MLAs and members to Bengaluru ahead of the June 18 Rajya Sabha vote as a strategic precaution against potential poaching or political pressure — a common practice in closely contested Rajya Sabha elections in India.
What happens next after the nomination rejection?
The Congress is expected to challenge the Returning Officer's ruling before the Election Commission of India. The outcome of any legal or procedural appeal will determine whether Natarajan remains on the ballot for the June 18 election.
