![\"Congress](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-131622193,imgsize-42534,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/meenakshi-natarajan.jpg\" "\\".\\"")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\nBHOPAL: Congress candidate Meenakshi Natarajan\u2019s nomination for the June 18 Rajya Sabha polls in MP was rejected Tuesday after scrutiny, turning election arithmetic on its head as BJP closed in on winning all three seats unopposed. Returning officer A P Singh rejected the nomination after BJP objected that Natarajan failed to disclose details of a pending case in Telangana.Congress branded the move \u201cillegal\u201d and alleged BJP had engineered a \u201cconstitutional conspiracy\u201d to grab a third RS seat despite lacking numbers. Under election law, EC cannot overturn a returning officer\u2019s decision during scrutiny.The stakes had already been running high after BJP sprang a surprise by fielding Mahesh Kewat as a third candidate. BJP, with 164 MLAs in the 230-member assembly, is comfortably placed to bag two seats. A candidate needs 58 votes to win, leaving Kewat dependent on surplus votes, cross-voting or abstentions.<\/p>\n Natarajan said, \u201cBJP fielded a third candidate without adequate votes and we knew hurdles would be created.\u201d She said, \u201cFirst, they are stealing votes through SIR, now they are stealing seats. We will fight this battle through every democratic and constitutional forum available.\u201dUnless Congress secures urgent relief from EC or Supreme Court, the contest now effectively stands reduced to three BJP candidates for three vacancies \u2014 setting the stage for an unopposed sweep in MP.Officials said that Meenakshi Natarajan was given an opportunity to furnish missing details but failed to do so, prompting rejection through a reasoned order.Congress disputed that interpretation. \u201cThe matter relates to BNS Section 223 concerning intentional disobedience of a lawful order by a public servant. It is not a criminal case in the conventional sense,\u201d Congress legal cell representative Ajay Gupta said. \u201cThere was no requirement to disclose it under prescribed norms.\u201dGupta said the party would challenge the rejection before appropriate legal forums, including EC and SC.Congress fumes as Natarajan\u2019s RS nomination nixed, BJP close to winning all 3 in MPBJP countered that RO had merely followed law and SC guidelines on disclosure of pending criminal matters. \u201cApart from an FIR, if a court summons has been issued in a criminal matter, declaration is compulsory,\u201d BJP legal cell member Sanket Gupta said. \u201cShe can\u2019t claim ignorance because she herself responded to the notice issued by a Hyderabad court.\u201d<\/div>\nNatarajan was given a chance to furnish missing details, she didn\u2019t do so: Officials<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n