Spokesperson: Shri K.C. Venugopal: The Congress Party made it categorically clear that there was no criminal case pending against the Party Rajya Sabha candidate from Madhya Pradesh, Meenakshi Natarajan, that she was mandated to disclose in her nomination papers.

It said that the Returning Officer (RO) had exceeded his authority and acted arbitrarily in rejecting her nomination papers. “It is something like making 2+2 equal 7”, remarked senior Party leader and legal luminary Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

A delegation led by Party General Secretary in-charge organisation Shri KC Venugopal met the Election Commission of India. The delegation comprised Bhupesh Baghel, Jairam Ramesh, Randeep Singh Surjewala, Deepa Dasmunshi, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Meenakshi Natarajan, Vivek Tankha and Muhammad Ali Khan.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Shri Venugopal said that the delegation had a detailed discussion with the Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commissioners and the Party presented its case with full facts and supporting documents.

Dr Abhishek Singhvi said that it was a bizarre and shameless act on part of the RO and ran contrary to democratic principles.

He said that the Election Commission of India is fully empowered to reverse the decision of the RO. He also cited precedents where the ECI had set aside the RO’s orders in Haryana and Gujarat. He said that all the relevant documents had been presented before the Commission. Wednesday, June 10, 2026