Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the rejection of Congress leader Meenakshi Natarajan’s Rajya Sabha nomination. Speaking to the media in Hyderabad, Reddy accused the BJP of orchestrating a conspiracy to block Natarajan’s candidacy after failing to secure a majority in the recent elections.
CM’s Strong Reaction
“Unable to win, they conspired and got Meenakshi Natarajan’s nomination rejected,” the CM said, referring to the BJP’s alleged role in the rejection. He termed the move as “seat chori” (seat theft), alleging that the ruling party at the Centre was using its influence to undermine democratic processes. Reddy further claimed that the rejection was a clear indication of the BJP’s fear of losing ground in Telangana.
Background of the Controversy
Meenakshi Natarajan, a prominent Congress leader and former Member of Parliament from Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh, had filed her nomination for the Rajya Sabha biennial elections from Telangana. However, the Returning Officer rejected her nomination papers citing technical deficiencies, including discrepancies in the proposers’ signatures and lack of proper documentation. The Congress party has challenged the rejection, calling it politically motivated.
Political Fallout
The incident has triggered a political firestorm, with Congress leaders across the country rallying behind Natarajan. Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted, “This is an assault on democracy. The BJP is using every tool to silence opposition voices.” Meanwhile, the BJP has dismissed the allegations, stating that the rejection was based purely on legal grounds and that the Congress should respect the electoral process.
Revanth Reddy’s remarks have further escalated tensions between the Congress and BJP in Telangana, where the two parties are locked in a fierce battle for political supremacy. The CM warned that such actions would not go unanswered and hinted at a larger protest strategy. “We will expose their dictatorial tendencies at every forum,” he added.
As the controversy unfolds, all eyes are on the Election Commission, which is expected to announce the final list of valid nominations soon. The Congress has vowed to take the matter to court if necessary, ensuring that the issue remains a flashpoint in the ongoing political saga.
