10 June,2026 07:23 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Congress leaders alleged that the rejection of Minakshi Natarajan’s nomination was illegal. Pic/Congress
Congress on Wednesday staged a protest in Dadar area of Mumbai, against the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the BJP-led governments, alleging undemocratic action in the rejection of Congress candidate Minakshi Natarajan's Rajya Sabha nomination in Madhya Pradesh.
According to an official statement, the demonstration was led by Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal, saw party workers raising slogans and accusing the poll body of acting under political influence.
Party workers gathered in large numbers and staged an agitation outside party offices, raising slogans against the Election Commission, the central government and the Maharashtra state government.
Congress leaders alleged that the rejection of Minakshi Natarajan's nomination was illegal and arbitrary, claiming there was no valid legal basis for the decision.
They further alleged that the Election Commission was acting under political pressure and functioning in favour of the ruling party.
During the demonstration, Congress workers shouted slogans.
The protest saw participation from several senior party leaders and youth workers.
Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal accused the Election Commission of India of acting like a "puppet" of the BJP government.
He claimed that there was no FIR or legal case against Minakshi Natarajan, yet her nomination was rejected based on a false objection.
Sapkal alleged a "nexus" between the Election Commission and the BJP and said such actions were dangerous for democracy and the Constitution.
Police deployed a large force at Tilak Bhavan, the Congress party office, as a precautionary measure during the protest in Dadar.
The demonstration remained largely peaceful despite strong political slogans and speeches.
Several leaders and party workers participated in the protest and hundreds of party workers were also present during the agitation.
Meanwhile, a Congress delegation is likely to meet the Election Commission on Wednesday over the rejection of party candidate Meenakshi Natarajan's nomination for the June 18 Rajya Sabha polls, reported the PTI.
The party had sought time from the Election Commission (EC), and the meeting has now been scheduled for 12 noon on Wednesday, sources said.
The poll authority has written to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, inviting a party delegation to discuss the rejection of Natarajan's nomination, they said, the news agency reported.
