Congress moves SC against rejection of Meenakshi Natarajan’s Rajya Sabha poll nomination

The Congress on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court against the rejection of the nomination of party leader Meenakshi Natarajan for the Rajya Sabha elections from Madhya Pradesh on the basis of objections raised by the Bharatiya Janata Party, The Indian Express reported.

Natarajan was the Congress’ sole candidate for the June 18 Rajya Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh. Her nomination was rejected on Tuesday after the BJP claimed that she had withheld information in her affidavit about a criminal case against her in Telangana.

Natarajan alleged that the Congress’ advocates “were not heard” by the returning officer who rejected the nomination.

On Wednesday, a delegation of Congress leaders KC Venugopal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Jairam Ramesh and Randeep Surjewala told reporters that they had made a detailed representation to the poll panel.

Singhvi said that Section 33A of the 1951 Representation of the People Act requires candidates to disclose cases filed against them that have a punishment of two years or more, and matters in which charges have been framed.

Natarajan had received a notice to appear before the court and explain “why cognisance should not be taken”, Singhvi said.

“So, the notice she received was before any cognisance was taken,” he added. “Without cognisance, no criminal case exists in the eyes of the law.” Singhvi maintained that...

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