The Rajya Sabha nomination of Meenakshi Natarajan has been rejected over allegations related to a long-standing legal case disclosed in her election affidavit.
Meenakshi Natarajan did not mention the Hyderabad case in her election affidavit while filing nomination for the Rajya Sabha elections. According to Election Commission rules, candidates are required to disclose all ongoing court cases. Since the Hyderabad case was not disclosed, her nomination was rejected.
Earlier, the Returning Officer took action after an objection and complaint filed by BJP candidate Mahesh Kewat.
The case dates back to 2025, when a complaint was filed in a Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Hyderabad by a woman named A. Shrilatha against Meenakshi Natarajan and others. Based on the complaint, charges under various provisions of the BNS, including Sections 356, 61, and 45, have been registered against them.
So far, the matter between the court and Meenakshi Natarajan is ongoing.
In September 2025, the court had sought a response to the notice from Meenakshi Natarajan.
In October 2025, Meenakshi Natarajan, along with her lawyer, submitted a counter-affidavit to the court, in which she declared herself innocent and requested that the case be closed.
In November 2025, the court did not dismiss the case and continued the hearing.
In this case, the BJP has made certain statements, while the Congress has also responded with its own position.
In this matter, the Congress has said this.
Congress leader Vivek Tankha said that there is no FIR against Meenakshi Natarajan, and that there was only a show-cause notice related to a ₹10 crore compensation matter, which is legally valid.
On the other hand, the BJP has said that…
BJP leaders have said that if any case is pending in court, it must be disclosed in the election affidavit, but Meenakshi Natarajan did not do so, which they claim makes her nomination legally
invalid.
In this case, Congress leaders from Delhi to Bhopal took to the streets in protest. In Delhi, after receiving the news, senior leaders such as K. C. Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh, Sachin Pilot, and Bhupesh Baghel staged a sit-in protest outside the Election Commission of India (ECI) office.
In Bhopal as well, Congress leaders including state in-charge Harish Chaudhary, Jitu Patwari, and Umang Singhar, along with several party MLAs, staged a protest outside the Election Commission of India (ECI) office. In some places, Congress workers also burnt effigies of the Chief Minister as part of their protest.
In this case, several opposition leaders have reacted, and Congress leaders have also issued their responses.
This was stated on the Indian Youth Congress official X account.
“The rejection of Meenakshi Natarajan Ji’s nomination is a direct assault on democratic values.Despite seeking an urgent hearing, the Election Commission has denied us the opportunity to present our case.
Congress will fight this attack on democracy through every constitutional and legal avenue available. If democracy still matters the Election Commission must intervene without delay.
”
Devender Yadav has criticised the Election Commission in this matter and wrote on X that…
“They rejected the nomination of Meenakshi Natarajan in Madhya Pradesh.
Within 30 minutes, we sent a letter to the Election Commission seeking an appointment. We then rushed here directly to submit a memorandum to the Election Commission of India, but they rejected completely.
We are responsible leaders of this country and elected representatives of the people.
Just now, we received information that one or two leaders may be allowed to submit a memorandum to the office. However, we need a physical hearing before the Election Commission to present and argue our case.
This is a clear-cut case of the murder of democracy.
If even a small element of democracy remains in this country, the Election Commission must intervene in this matter without any delay.
If they grant us an appointment tomorrow morning, we are prepared to wait until then. Otherwise, we will pursue all available legal options.”
