Congress Appeals to Supreme Court Over Rejection of Meenakshi Natarajan’s Rajya Sabha Nomination

The Indian National Congress has taken legal action by filing a petition with the Supreme Court concerning the dismissal of Meenakshi Natarajan’s nomination for the Rajya Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh. This move comes after the returning officer rejected her candidacy based on objections lodged by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Natarajan, who was the only candidate representing the Congress for the elections scheduled on June 18, found her nomination turned down following allegations that she had failed to disclose pertinent details regarding a criminal case against her from Telangana. The BJP asserted that this lack of disclosure warranted the rejection of her nomination.

In her defense, Natarajan claimed that the arguments presented by the Congress’ legal team were not properly considered by the returning officer prior to the decision to dismiss her candidacy. On Wednesday, a group of senior Congress leaders, including KC Venugopal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Jairam Ramesh, and Randeep Surjewala, addressed the media to elaborate on their position. Singhvi reiterated the provisions of Section 33A of the 1951 Representation of the People Act, which mandates that candidates disclose cases against them that carry a potential punishment of two years or more, along with any charges that have been formally framed.

Singhvi further explained that Natarajan had received a court notice before any legal cognisance was taken regarding the alleged criminal case. He argued that until cognisance is taken, the case does not hold any legal weight. This highlights a critical point of contention in the matter, as the Congress party believes that the rejection was unfounded given the legal circumstances.

As the situation unfolds, the Congress party is seeking to rectify this issue through the Supreme Court, emphasizing the importance of fair treatment in the electoral process. The party’s leaders are confident that the court will understand the nuances of the case and provide a just resolution that allows Natarajan to participate in the upcoming elections.

Source: scroll.in