Legal Challenge in Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sabha Elections: Meenakshi Natarajan Appeals to Supreme Court
In a pivotal moment for Madhya Pradesh's Rajya Sabha elections, Congress candidate Meenakshi Natarajan has legally challenged the annulment of her nomination by the Election Commission. Labeling the decision as arbitrary and biased, she has sought intervention from the Supreme Court. This legal move comes just before the elections scheduled for June 18, where the BJP appears poised to win all three seats uncontested following Natarajan's withdrawal. The Congress party is rallying to overturn the EC's decision, arguing that the annulment was unjustified and detrimental to the electoral process. As the situation unfolds, the implications for both parties are significant.
| Jun 11, 2026, 09:21 IST
Meenakshi Natarajan's Legal Battle
In a significant turn of events in Madhya Pradesh's Rajya Sabha politics, Congress candidate Meenakshi Natarajan has contested the Election Commission's (EC) decision to annul her nomination by appealing to the Supreme Court. On Thursday, Natarajan approached the apex court, labeling the Returning Officer's (RO) ruling as "arbitrary, biased, and unlawful," and has requested immediate judicial intervention in the matter.
Prior to her legal action, it appeared that the annulment of her nomination would pave the way for BJP candidate Mahesh Kevat to secure a victory uncontested for the state's third seat.
In her petition, Natarajan has described the RO's decision as "arbitrary, biased, and against the law," urging the Supreme Court to promptly overturn the order. The petition seeks immediate relief, arguing that the cancellation of her nomination was not legally justified and adversely affected the electoral process. It is anticipated that Natarajan will request a swift hearing from the Supreme Court today.
Controversy Surrounding Natarajan's Rajya Sabha Nomination
The political landscape shifted dramatically on Tuesday regarding the elections for three Rajya Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh, scheduled for June 18, when Natarajan's nomination was annulled based on allegations that she concealed information in her election affidavit.
The objection was raised by BJP candidate Mahesh Kevat, who is contesting for the third Rajya Sabha seat. Following the complaint, the Returning Officer, Arvind Sharma, ruled that Natarajan had submitted an incomplete affidavit, as she failed to disclose a court-registered complaint in Form 26 accompanying her nomination papers.
According to the RO's order, the examination of documents revealed that the omission of this information was tantamount to concealing essential details, leading to the cancellation of her nomination.
Congress Challenges EC's Decision
On Wednesday, senior Congress leaders met with the Election Commission, asserting that Natarajan's nomination was improperly annulled.
A delegation including K.C. Venugopal, Randeep Surjewala, Jairam Ramesh, Deepa Dasmunshi, Vivek Tankha, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, and Meenakshi Natarajan urged the EC to reverse its decision. The Congress party contended that there are no pending criminal cases against Natarajan, as no court has acknowledged the private complaint referenced in the RO's order. They argued that the rejection of her nomination was legally flawed and should be overturned.
BJP Poised for Victory in Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sabha Seats
With Natarajan's nomination being rejected, the BJP is now in a strong position to win all three Rajya Sabha seats from Madhya Pradesh uncontested.
The ruling party already possesses sufficient numbers in the state assembly to easily elect its other two candidates, Tarun Chugh and Rajneesh Agarwal. Natarajan's withdrawal from the race has cleared the path for BJP candidate Mahesh Kevat to be elected as the third Rajya Sabha member from the state.
This development raises expectations for the BJP to secure all three seats in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections on June 18.