Meenakshi Natarajan denies conspiracy behind Rajya Sabha nomination rejection

AICC Telangana in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan denied allegations of an internal Congress conspiracy behind the rejection of her Rajya Sabha nomination. She dismissed BJP claims, rejected speculation about a Telangana Rajya Sabha vacancy for her, and clarified the legal notice issue

Hyderabad: Amid the political row surrounding the rejection of her Rajya Sabha nomination, AICC in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan sought to dismiss the issue, stating that no conspiracy had been hatched within the Telangana Congress. The controversy erupted after a BJP minister from Madhya Pradesh alleged that irregularities in Natarajan’s nomination affidavit had been brought to light by leaders from the Telangana Congress.

While Natarajan rejected the allegation as a baseless attempt by the BJP to create a controversy, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president Mahesh Kumar Goud had earlier said the AICC had taken the matter seriously. In an interview with a regional news channel, Goud said the party was examining the episode. “The AICC has taken a serious view of the development. The high command sought an explanation from me, and I gave a complete clarification during the AICC meeting,” he had said.

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However, addressing a press conference in Hyderabad on Sunday, Natarajan denied any internal conspiracy. “There is no conspiracy. There is no reason for anyone in the party to plot against me. This is a false theory floated by the BJP to divert attention,” she said.

She also dismissed speculation that a Congress Rajya Sabha member from Telangana would resign to facilitate her entry into Parliament. “No one in Telangana is resigning a Rajya Sabha seat for me. These reports are completely baseless,” she said, adding that she would continue her active political role in Madhya Pradesh.

Explaining the rejection of her nomination, Natarajan said the nomination form did not contain any provision requiring the disclosure of a pending legal notice.

“When an objection was raised, the Returning Officer asked whether any legal notice was pending against me, and I replied in the affirmative,” she said.

She further clarified that the matter related to a period before she took charge as AICC Telangana in-charge in 2025.