Rahul Gandhi on Thursday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was indulging in 'seat chori' (seat theft) in the Rajya Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh, a day after the Returning Officer (RO) rejected the nomination of Congress candidate Meenakshi Natarajan. The Congress leader's sharp attack came after the RO refused to reverse his decision on the nomination rejection, despite the party's appeal.
Congress Alleges Irregularities
The Congress has claimed that the rejection of Natarajan's nomination was a deliberate move to ensure the BJP's candidate wins unopposed. Party leaders have accused the state government of using its influence to manipulate the election process. Rahul Gandhi, speaking to reporters, said, 'First they stole votes, then they stole the government, and now they are stealing seats. This is a direct assault on democracy.'
Returning Officer's Stand
The RO, however, maintained that the nomination was rejected due to technical deficiencies, including missing signatures and incomplete affidavits. The Congress has disputed this, arguing that all required documents were in order. The party has now approached the Election Commission of India seeking intervention.
Political Fallout
The controversy has sparked a political slugfest, with the BJP dismissing the allegations as baseless. BJP spokesperson said, 'The Congress is trying to cover up its own incompetence. The rules are clear, and the RO acted within his authority.' The Rajya Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh are crucial as they could affect the balance of power in the Upper House.
This is not the first time Rahul Gandhi has used the term 'chori' in reference to the BJP. Earlier, he had accused the party of 'vote chori' during the 2019 general elections and 'sarkar chori' after the formation of the Modi government. The Congress is now planning to raise the issue in Parliament and seek a debate on the conduct of the RO.
The Election Commission is expected to announce the final schedule for the Rajya Sabha polls in Madhya Pradesh soon, with the Congress considering legal options to challenge the nomination rejection.
