BJP wins all three Rajya Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh unopposed after Congress nominee’s papers rejected

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday secured all three Rajya Sabha seats from Madhya Pradesh unopposed after the nomination papers of the Congress party’s lone candidate were rejected earlier this week.

Returning Officer Arvind Sharma formally declared BJP nominees Rajneesh Agrawal, Tarun Chugh and Mahesh Kevat elected after the deadline for withdrawal of nominations expired without any other candidates remaining in the contest.

Congress candidate’s nomination rejected

The BJP’s uncontested victory became possible after Congress nominee Meenakshi Natarajan’s nomination papers were rejected on Tuesday. BJP leaders, including Mahesh Kevat, had objected to her candidature, alleging that she failed to disclose details of a pending court matter in Hyderabad in her election affidavit.

The Returning Officer accepted the objection, ruling that Natarajan had submitted an incomplete nomination form by not mentioning a court summons issued in connection with a 2022 rape case involving a Congress leader in Telangana.

Supreme Court declines interim relief

Hours before the BJP candidates were officially declared elected, the Supreme Court agreed to hear Natarajan’s challenge against the rejection of her nomination. However, the court refused to stay the ongoing Rajya Sabha election process in Madhya Pradesh.

Appearing for Natarajan, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi argued that her nomination had been rejected despite no cognisance having been taken by the court in the matter. He sought an interim order to prevent the declaration of results.

A bench comprising Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Atul S Chandurkar declined the request, observing that the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Election Commission of India vs Ashok Kumar (2000) generally discourages judicial intervention once an election process is underway.

Congress attacks Election Commission

The Congress accused election authorities of acting in favour of the BJP. Leader of Opposition in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Umang Singhar questioned the Returning Officer’s decision and alleged inconsistency in the application of election rules.

Singhar claimed the Election Commission had acted as a “rubber stamp” for the BJP and argued that the rejection of Natarajan’s nomination violated established legal principles and Supreme Court guidelines.

BJP hails grassroots representation

Mahesh Kevat, whose election was made possible following the rejection of the Congress candidate’s nomination, described his elevation to the Rajya Sabha as an example of the BJP’s commitment to grassroots workers.

“It can happen only in the BJP that a small worker from Bundelkhand like me becomes a Rajya Sabha MP,” Kevat said after receiving his election certificate.

With the Congress candidate out of the race and no further challengers in the fray, the BJP swept all three Rajya Sabha seats from Madhya Pradesh without a contest.