SC Dismissed Meenakshi Natarajan’s Plea, But She Still Has One Legal Remedy Left

Published 12 June 2026 · india

SC Dismissed Meenakshi Natarajan’s Plea, But She Still Has One Legal Remedy Left Written By, Last Updated: June 12, 2026, 14:31 IST After SC dismissed

SC Dismissed Meenakshi Natarajan’s Plea, But She Still Has One Legal Remedy Left Written By, Last Updated: June 12, 2026, 14:31 IST After SC dismissed her plea, Congress leader Meenakshi Natarajan said she would now turn to the court of the public. Does she have any legal remedies left? Rapid Read Meenakshi Natarajan called it a blow to democracy. (File) The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed Congress leader Meenakshi Natarajan’s plea challenging the rejection of her nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha election from Madhya Pradesh. While Natarajan called it a “serious blow to the country and democracy", she insisted they would now go to the “court of the public". Does Natarajan have any legal remedies left? ‘Will Now Go to the Court of the Public’: What Meenakshi Natarajan Said Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Mahesh Kewat had filed a complaint with the Returning Officer alleging that Natarajan had not mentioned in her affidavit a case registered against her in Telangana. An order issued by Rajya Sabha Election Returning Officer Arvind Sharma stated that, after examining the available documents, it was found that Natarajan had submitted an incomplete affidavit, omitting details of a court complaint in Form 26, which was submitted along with her nomination papers. Natarajan said the issue is not a personal matter but one concerning the nation and democratic values.

She added that they would now go to the “court of the public". On the next course of action, she said it would be decided after discussions with party members. She further maintained that there was no mistake on their part. What Natarajan Could Do Next: The Sole Legal Remedy Natarajan can now file an election petition in the Madhya Pradesh High Court under Section 80 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Natarajan’s legal team, led by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, can seek to prove that the Returning Officer’s (RO) decision was arbitrary. They could argue that a pre-cognisance show-cause notice does not constitute a criminal case and therefore did not legally require disclosure under Section 33A. If the High Court eventually finds the RO’s rejection improper, it has the power to set aside the election of the winning candidate(s) and order a fresh poll. Outside the Courtroom Outside the courtroom, the Congress party is using the disqualification to mount a political offensive against the BJP-led government. Leaders such as Rahul Gandhi have called the rejection an instance of institutional subversion of democracy. General Secretary K.C. Venugopal stated that the party would fight the matter “on the streets, tooth and nail", campaigning against what it terms the “murder of democracy". While this may not help her case for this seat, it could generate public sympathy ahead of upcoming local-body and state assembly elections.