Meenakshi Natarajan Row: How A Rejected Nomination Could Hand BJP All 3 Rajya Sabha Seats In MP

Last Updated:June 10, 2026, 11:20 IST

A former Congress general secretary and former Lok Sabha MP from Mandsaur, Natarajan is widely regarded as one of Rahul Gandhi's trusted organisational leaders

The Congress has accused the Election Commission and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of engineering a political setback after senior leader Meenakshi Natarajan’s nomination for the Rajya Sabha elections from Madhya Pradesh was rejected, dramatically altering the arithmetic in a contest that was expected to be closely watched.

With Natarajan’s candidature struck down, the BJP is now poised to win all three Rajya Sabha seats from the state unopposed, dealing a blow to the Congress and triggering a fresh political confrontation between the two parties.

Why Was Meenakshi Natarajan’s Nomination Rejected?

Returning Officer Sandeep Yadav rejected Natarajan’s nomination after objections raised by BJP candidate Maya Narolia and her election agent.

According to the order, Natarajan allegedly failed to disclose details of criminal cases pending against her in the affidavit accompanying her nomination papers. Election authorities held that the omission constituted a violation of nomination requirements and rendered her candidature invalid.

The BJP argued that candidates are legally required to furnish complete details of all pending criminal proceedings and that any concealment, whether deliberate or inadvertent, attracts disqualification from the electoral process.

Congress leaders, however, have rejected the decision, describing it as “arbitrary" and “politically motivated".

What Cases Are At The Centre Of The Controversy?

The dispute revolves around criminal cases linked to political protests and demonstrations in which Natarajan was allegedly named.

Congress leaders contend that the cases cited by election authorities are minor, politically driven cases arising out of agitation politics and that there was no intention to suppress information.

The party has questioned why such objections were raised only after scrutiny despite Natarajan being a long-serving public figure whose legal record is well known.

Why It’s A Blow For Congress

The rejection is significant because Natarajan was not just another Congress nominee.

A former Congress general secretary and former Lok Sabha MP from Mandsaur, Natarajan is widely regarded as one of Rahul Gandhi’s trusted organisational leaders. She has played key roles in the party’s internal restructuring efforts and was brought back into prominence as part of the Congress leadership’s attempt to strengthen its organisation.

Political observers view her nomination as a signal that the Congress leadership wanted a loyal organisational hand in Parliament. Her disqualification therefore carries implications beyond a single Rajya Sabha seat.

How Did Natarajan Become The Congress Candidate?

Natarajan’s nomination itself had sparked controversy within the party.

Several Congress MLAs from Madhya Pradesh reportedly questioned the decision to field her from the state, arguing that local leaders should have been given preference. Some legislators are also said to have conveyed their dissatisfaction to the party leadership, claiming that a candidate from outside the immediate state legislative ecosystem had been imposed from above.

The episode exposed simmering tensions within the state unit even before the nomination battle began.

What Does This Mean For The Rajya Sabha Election?

The immediate beneficiary is the BJP.

Madhya Pradesh’s current assembly numbers already favoured the ruling party. However, the Congress had hoped to mount a symbolic challenge through Natarajan’s candidature.

With her nomination rejected and no alternative candidate in the race, the BJP is now positioned to secure all three available Rajya Sabha seats from the state.

The development effectively turns what could have been a political contest into a straightforward victory for the ruling party.

Congress Alleges Political Targeting

The Congress has accused the BJP of weaponising procedural objections to eliminate opposition candidates.

Senior party leaders have argued that the scrutiny process is being selectively applied and have demanded a review of the decision. The party is also exploring legal and procedural options available under election law.

Congress general secretary KC Venugopal described the rejection as deeply troubling and questioned the speed with which objections against the Congress nominee were entertained.

The BJP, meanwhile, insists that the matter is purely legal and procedural and has accused the Congress of attempting to politicise a straightforward compliance issue.

Not Just About One Rajya Sabha Seat

The controversy comes at a time when the Congress is trying to rebuild its organisational structure ahead of key electoral battles.

Natarajan’s proximity to Rahul Gandhi, the internal resentment over her candidature, and the eventual rejection of her nomination have combined to create a politically damaging episode for the party.

For the BJP, the development reinforces its dominance in Madhya Pradesh, a state where it has maintained a strong electoral advantage in recent years.

For the Congress, the episode raises uncomfortable questions about candidate selection, internal unity, and whether procedural lapses, or political targeting, as it claims, cost the party one of its most high-profile Rajya Sabha nominations in recent memory.

About the Author

Apoorva Misra

Apoorva Misra is News Editor at News18.com with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University's Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, ...Read More

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