Congress leader Meenakshi Natarajan filed a petition with the Supreme Court on June 11, 2026 [2], challenging the rejection of her Rajya Sabha nomination.
The legal move comes as Natarajan seeks to contest a seat from Madhya Pradesh before the scheduled polls on June 18, 2026 [3]. The outcome of the petition will determine if she can remain a candidate in the upcoming election cycle.
The Election Commission Returning Officer rejected Natarajan's nomination on June 9, 2026 [1]. The rejection followed allegations that Natarajan failed to disclose a pending criminal case in Telangana within her election affidavit [1].
According to reports, the objections regarding the affidavit were raised by members of the BJP [1]. Some reports specify that the objection was filed by BJP candidate Mahesh Kewat [2], while others attribute the move to BJP leaders more broadly [1].
Natarajan said the decision to reject her nomination was "biased, contrary to law" [2]. She has now approached the highest court to overturn the Returning Officer's ruling and secure her eligibility to run for the upper house.
The petition seeks urgent intervention from the court given the proximity of the June 18 election date [3]. The legal dispute centers on whether the non-disclosure of the Telangana case constitutes a valid ground for the disqualification of her nomination papers [1].
“"Biased, contrary to law"”
This case highlights the strict scrutiny applied to election affidavits in India, where the non-disclosure of pending legal matters can lead to immediate disqualification. The Supreme Court's decision will clarify the threshold for 'material omission' in nominations and could influence how candidates disclose pending litigation across different states.
