Congress leader Meenakshi Natarajan's nomination for the Rajya Sabha election from Madhya Pradesh was rejected on Tuesday after objections were raised over the alleged non-disclosure of a court matter in Telangana.
The Returning Officer rejected her nomination following a complaint filed by senior BJP leader and Madhya Pradesh minister Kailash Vijayvargiya. The BJP argued that Natarajan failed to mention a pending court matter involving her in the nomination affidavit, making her nomination invalid.
The Congress has strongly opposed the decision, calling it an attempt by the BJP to manipulate the Rajya Sabha election. The rejection has put the party in a difficult position as the deadline for filing nominations ended on June 8, leaving no opportunity to field a replacement candidate.
What Is the Telangana Case?
The controversy stems from a private complaint filed by former corporate executive A. Srilatha.
The matter originally began in 2022 when Srilatha accused Telangana Congress leader Kumbham Shivakumar Reddy of harassment, molestation, threats and other misconduct. She also alleged that some political leaders failed to act despite being informed of her complaints.
According to police sources, Srilatha had approached Hyderabad Police in 2022, but the case was closed due to insufficient evidence. Subsequent complaints filed by her in Hyderabad and Bengaluru were also disposed of.
How Did Meenakshi Natarajan's Name Enter the Matter?
Natarajan was not named in the original 2022 complaint.
Her name appeared only in a fresh private petition filed by Srilatha in 2025 before the 4th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Nampally, Hyderabad.
In that petition, Srilatha alleged that she had informed Natarajan, who was then handling Congress affairs in Telangana, about her grievances. She claimed that despite provisions within the Congress organisation for disciplinary action, no steps were taken against the leader concerned.
Based on these allegations, Natarajan was named as one of the respondents in the petition.
Is Meenakshi Natarajan an Accused in a Criminal Case?
This is where the dispute lies.
According to police officials and Natarajan's legal team, she is not an accused in a criminal case. They argue that the court has not yet taken cognisance of the complaint and that the matter remains at a preliminary stage.
Under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), a magistrate must first examine the complainant before deciding whether a criminal case should proceed. Until cognisance is taken, the individuals named in such petitions are generally treated as respondents rather than accused persons.
Natarajan's lawyers maintain that no criminal proceedings have been initiated against her and that she merely received a court notice in connection with the private complaint.
Congress Calls Rejection Illegal
Senior Congress leader and advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi described the rejection of Natarajan's nomination as "patently and blatantly illegal."
He argued that anyone can file a private complaint against any individual, but a criminal case comes into existence only after a magistrate takes cognisance of the matter.
According to Singhvi, since no criminal case legally exists against Natarajan, there was nothing for her to disclose in her election affidavit.
What Has Meenakshi Natarajan Said?
Reacting to the rejection, Natarajan accused the BJP of trying to influence the Rajya Sabha election.
She claimed the BJP had fielded a third candidate despite lacking sufficient numbers in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly and had initially hoped to win through cross-voting or defections.
"When the BJP saw that the entire Congress legislature party was united and all MLAs were standing together, they came up with a fabricated issue to counter us," she said.
Natarajan reiterated that the Telangana matter was only a legal notice arising from a private complaint and not a criminal case.
"If there had been a criminal case in which the court had taken cognisance or charges had been framed against me, then it would be fair to say that information was concealed. But when no case exists, how can anyone claim that I hid anything?" she asked.
The controversy is now expected to trigger a legal and political battle, with Congress challenging the rejection and the BJP insisting that the nomination affidavit was incomplete.
