NEW DELHI: A political storm erupted on Tuesday after the nomination of Congress Rajya Sabha candidate Meenakshi Natarajan from Madhya Pradesh was rejected, triggering protests by senior party leaders and a confrontation outside the Election Commission office in Delhi.Congress leaders, including Jairam Ramesh, KC Venugopal, Bhupesh Baghel and Sachin Pilot, arrived at the Election Commission office to protest the decision. Visuals from the scene showed Jairam Ramesh being stopped from entering the premises.Before heading to the ECI office, Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal condemned the development, saying, “…Democracy has been killed…”Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav hailed the decision and called on the Congress party to “introspect”.”As you all know, the Congress candidate concealed the information of criminal background, it should have been declared. But unfortunately, the Congress people concealed. The decision that was taken, I welcome this scrutiny. Now the Congress should introspect, they were in fear. We welcome the decision,” he said.The controversy began after the Returning Officer for the Rajya Sabha election rejected Natarajan’s nomination. According to an official of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly, the nomination was rejected on the grounds that she had allegedly concealed information about a case in her affidavit.The objection was raised by BJP candidate Mahesh Kewat, who is contesting the third Rajya Sabha seat. His lawyer, Sanket Gupta, alleged that a criminal case pending against Natarajan in a Telangana court had not been disclosed in her nomination papers, making her affidavit incomplete. Gupta said the Returning Officer accepted the objection and rejected the nomination, adding that there were several other deficiencies in the paperwork.Venugopal accused the BJP of attempting to “destroy the democratic process” and alleged that the ruling party resorted to rejecting Natarajan’s nomination after its efforts to influence Congress MLAs had failed. He said the party would challenge the decision both legally and politically.Read the latest news on the go. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosWhy The Centre Lifted Lakshadweep’s 47-Year Liquor Ban: ExplainedPoK Unrest Deepens: Protesters Allege Crackdown, Casualties And BlackoutTMC Crisis Deepens As CID Probes Alleged Fake Signatures In LoP Selection Case | WatchIndia Accuses Pak Of Spreading Disinformation To Cover Up Human Rights Abuses In POKUS Court Strikes Down Trump-Era $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee | Temporary Relief To Indians?SIPRI 2026: India Overtakes Pak In Nuclear Warheads, Emerges As World’s 5th Largest Military SpenderGovt Clears 250 MW Solar Power Project With BESS On Defence Land In Uttar PradeshDelhi LG Proposes Recruitment of Former Agniveers to Address Fire Department VacanciesWayanad Health Alert: 25 Students Admitted With Suspected Shigella InfectionZojila Tunnel Breakthrough: Major Milestone In India’s Most Challenging Himalayan Infra Project123PhotostoriesLondon’s Billionaire Street: 5 most expensive real estate addresses attracting the world’s wealthiest buyers5 brain tumour myths that experts wish people would stop believingLewis Hamilton’s luxury sneaker collection:A look at the F1 star’s footwear obsessionFrom Aamir Khan to Lalit Modi: 10 famous personalities who fell in love with their long-time friendsIndian history and mythology to native language: 6 meaningful ways to connect children with indian heritage5 countries where tipping is considered rudeFrom ‘Om Shanti Om’, ‘Dear Zindagi’ to Yale University: Shah Rukh Khan’s most inspiring quotes that will change your outlook on lifeThe best places to retire in India: Affordable, peaceful, and senior-friendly9 mangoes that are not grown in India and what makes them uniqueSuccess quote of the day by Steve Jobs: “Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is…”123Hot PicksCUET UG 2026 Answer KeyNFL Trade RumorsMamata BanerjeeMathew BarzalSwapnil SrivastavDana WhiteBrock LesnarTom Brady and Gisele Bündchen DivorcePoK ProtestsTop TrendingBAN vs AUS Live ScoreUS Iran warGold Rate TodayFIFA World Cup 2026Driving Licence ValidityChennai TNSTC BusGautam PatelDU Professor Murder CaseVisakhapatnam Steel Plant AccidentCBSE Class 12 re-evaluation
NEW DELHI: A political storm erupted on Tuesday after the nomination of Congress Rajya Sabha candidate Meenakshi Natarajan from Madhya Pradesh was rejected, triggering protests by senior party leaders and a confrontation outside the Election Commission office in Delhi.Congress leaders, including Jairam Ramesh, KC Venugopal, Bhupesh Baghel and Sachin Pilot, arrived at the Election Commission office to protest the decision. Visuals from the scene showed Jairam Ramesh being stopped from entering the premises.Before heading to the ECI office, Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal condemned the development, saying, “…Democracy has been killed…”Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav hailed the decision and called on the Congress party to “introspect”.“As you all know, the Congress candidate concealed the information of criminal background, it should have been declared. But unfortunately, the Congress people concealed. The decision that was taken, I welcome this scrutiny. Now the Congress should introspect, they were in fear. We welcome the decision,” he said.The controversy began after the Returning Officer for the Rajya Sabha election rejected Natarajan’s nomination. According to an official of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly, the nomination was rejected on the grounds that she had allegedly concealed information about a case in her affidavit.The objection was raised by BJP candidate Mahesh Kewat, who is contesting the third Rajya Sabha seat. His lawyer, Sanket Gupta, alleged that a criminal case pending against Natarajan in a Telangana court had not been disclosed in her nomination papers, making her affidavit incomplete. Gupta said the Returning Officer accepted the objection and rejected the nomination, adding that there were several other deficiencies in the paperwork.Venugopal accused the BJP of attempting to “destroy the democratic process” and alleged that the ruling party resorted to rejecting Natarajan’s nomination after its efforts to influence Congress MLAs had failed. He said the party would challenge the decision both legally and politically.
