BJP objects to Congress RS nominee Natarajan’s papers over Telangana notice, party rejects charge

Bhopal, June 9 (IANS) The Rajya Sabha poll contest in Madhya Pradesh intensified on Tuesday after the BJP lodged a formal objection with the Returning Officer against Congress candidate Meenakshi Natarajan’s nomination, alleging that she suppressed information related to a legal proceeding in Telangana.

Senior BJP leader and Minister in the Mohan Yadav government, Kailash Vijayvargiya, lodged the complaint, contending that a case involving Natarajan is pending before a Telangana court and was not disclosed in her nomination affidavit.

The BJP demanded rejection of her candidature, arguing that non-disclosure violates Election Commission norms.

The document cited by the BJP was issued by an Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate on September 17, 2025. The notice, accessed by IANS, states: “U/Sec. 223 BNSS has been filed by the petitioner on September 17, 2025, for your appearance (Meenakshi Natarajan) and filing a counter if any. You are directed to attend this court without fail.”

The objection is under scrutiny at the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly. State Congress president Jitu Patwari and former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh, along with other leaders, met the Returning Officer to counter the BJP’s charge.

Madhya Pradesh Congress in-charge Harish Chaudhary accused the BJP of acting out of desperation after fielding a third candidate without adequate numbers. “The point on which the BJP objected is baseless, because Natarajan was issued a show-cause notice, not charged with a criminal case. A notice can be issued to anyone,” Chaudhary said.

The face-off spilled outside the Returning Officer’s office, where BJP workers gathered, raising slogans of “Vande Mataram” and “Bharat Mata.”

A brief scuffle broke out between BJP and Congress workers before police and officials brought the situation under control.

Natarajan filed her nomination on Monday for one of the three Rajya Sabha seats from the state. The BJP has fielded Rajneesh Agarwal, Tarun Chugh, and Mahesh Kevat.

With 58 first-preference votes needed per seat, the BJP’s 165 MLAs can comfortably win two seats but fall short for the third, while Congress, with 62 MLAs, has a narrow margin to elect Natarajan.

–IANS

pd/skp