The Rajya Sabha contest in Madhya Pradesh took a dramatic turn after Congress candidate Meenakshi Natarajan's nomination was reportedly rejected following objections raised by the BJP, potentially clearing the way for the ruling party to secure a third seat in the state.
Bhopal: The political battle over Madhya Pradesh's Rajya Sabha elections intensified after the BJP challenged Meenakshi Natarajan's nomination, alleging that she failed to disclose details of a legal proceeding linked to a Telangana court.
Senior BJP leader and state minister Kailash Vijayvargiya submitted the objection before the Returning Officer, arguing that the omission violated election disclosure requirements.
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The BJP maintained that candidates are required to provide complete information regarding pending legal matters in their nomination documents.
Congress rejects allegations
Congress leaders strongly opposed the BJP's claims and described the objection as politically motivated.
Senior leaders, including state Congress chief Jitu Patwari and former chief minister Digvijaya Singh, met election authorities to defend Natarajan's nomination.
The party argued that the Telangana matter involved only a court notice and not a criminal charge, making the BJP's objection legally unsustainable.
High-voltage scenes outside Assembly
Tensions rose outside the Returning Officer's office as workers from both parties gathered during the scrutiny process.
BJP supporters raised slogans in support of their party's stand, while Congress workers protested the objection. A brief confrontation occurred before police personnel restored order.
The developments underscored the high political stakes attached to the Rajya Sabha election.
What it means for the Rajya Sabha race
The election is being held for three Rajya Sabha seats from Madhya Pradesh.
The BJP already has the numbers to comfortably secure two seats. The third seat had become the centre of an intense political contest after the party fielded Mahesh Kewat despite not having an outright numerical advantage.
If Natarajan's rejection stands and no replacement candidate enters the race, the BJP's path to securing all three seats could become significantly easier.
Congress had moved MLAs amid poaching fears
The controversy comes just as the Congress shifted dozens of its MLAs to Bengaluru, alleging attempts by the BJP to engineer cross-voting ahead of the June 18 election. The move reflected the party's concern over protecting votes needed to elect its candidate.
The development could prove to be a major setback for the Congress in Madhya Pradesh and strengthen the BJP's position in the Rajya Sabha.
With the ruling party already dominant in the state Assembly, winning a third seat would further boost its strength in Parliament and mark another political victory in a contest that has become increasingly contentious over the past few days.
Published: 09 Jun 2026, 07:30 pm IST
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