Cong. Moves EC Over Meenakshi Nomination Rejection

A delegation led by K.C. Venugopal met the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners in New Delhi. The delegation included Bhupesh Baghel, Jairam Ramesh, Randeep Singh Surjewala, Deepa Dasmunshi, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Vivek Tankha and Muhammad Ali Khan.

The party termed the Returning Officer’s decision arbitrary and legally untenable, asserting that there was no pending criminal case against Natarajan requiring disclosure under election laws. The Commission is learnt to have referred the matter to its legal team, with a response expected by Thursday, the last day for filing nominations.

Addressing reporters, Venugopal said the party had submitted all relevant documents and expressed confidence that the Commission would examine the matter fairly.

Singhvi criticised the Returning Officer’s decision, calling it based on a flawed interpretation of law. “Without cognisance, there is no criminal case in existence,” he said, explaining that candidates are required to disclose only those cases where offences carry a punishment of two years or more and where a court has taken cognisance.

He said in Natarajan’s case, the court had only issued a notice seeking her response on whether cognisance should be taken, and no such stage had been reached.

Describing the rejection as “bizarre” and “shameless”, Singhvi said the Commission had the authority to overturn the decision and cited precedents of intervention in similar cases.

The Congress has sought reversal of the Returning Officer’s order, with the matter now under consideration by the Election Commission.