Meenakshi Natarajan Challenges Rajya Sabha Nomination Rejection Amid Controversy

Meenakshi Natarajan, a Congress leader, has taken her grievances to the Supreme Court following the rejection of her nomination for the Rajya Sabha. Central to the controversy is a complaint filed by Srilatha, who accuses Natarajan of providing support to Kumbham Shivakumar Reddy, a Congress figure facing serious accusations of sexual misconduct, molestation, and threats of violence. Despite numerous complaints, Srilatha claims that Congress leaders, including Natarajan, failed to act against Reddy, who has been linked to troubling allegations.

The origins of this dispute trace back to a fallout during the 2020 Narayanpet Municipality elections, where Srilatha, tasked with overseeing the elections, allegedly clashed with Reddy, leading to Congress losing the municipality to the Bharata Rashtra Samithi. A senior Congress MP revealed that after Srilatha threatened to expose damaging information about Reddy, he began to intimidate her. Following complaints, Reddy was removed from his position as District Congress Committee president in mid-2021.

Despite her efforts, including filing FIRs in Hyderabad and Bengaluru in 2022 and 2023, Srilatha's cases were dismissed due to insufficient evidence. Both she and Reddy sought nominations for the assembly elections, but the party ultimately selected Reddy’s daughter-in-law, Chitten Parnika Reddy, as the candidate. In September 2025, Srilatha reported renewed threats from Reddy and his supporters, leading her to lodge a complaint against Natarajan and other Congress leaders for their inaction.

Srilatha, who has a background in politics with the Telugu Desam Party before joining Congress, has not been removed from the party, although her current membership status remains unclear. As the situation escalated, Congress leaders scrambled to shield Natarajan’s candidacy from potential fallout. While earlier cases against Reddy lacked substantial evidence, the ongoing complaint from September 2025 is under scrutiny by the Election Commission.

Despite Natarajan's name being mentioned only in passing within the complaint, she received a notice related to the case. An advocate representing the Telangana BJP stated that Natarajan was aware of the legal proceedings and had engaged legal representation. The rejection of her nomination under Section 36(2)(b) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, highlights the critical need for transparency in the electoral process.

In response, Natarajan denounced the allegations as politically motivated, describing the rejection as a maneuver by the BJP to influence the Rajya Sabha elections. Supporters within the Congress rallied to her defense, arguing that the issue stemmed from a misunderstanding and emphasizing the absence of any criminal case against her. Telangana Congress leaders have also expressed their dissatisfaction with the Election Commission's decision, with calls for protests reflecting the party's outrage.

The unfolding drama has prompted sharp comments from BJP leaders, questioning the integrity of Congress's handling of the situation. As the political landscape continues to shift, the implications of this controversy for both Natarajan and the Congress party remain to be seen.