"Fight of democratic values": Congress candidate Meenakshi Natarajan extends gratitude to party leadership ahead of RS polls
Bhopal, June 6
Congress candidate Meenakshi Natarajan for Rajya Sabha elections on Saturday expressed gratitude to the party's senior leadership and MLAs for entrusting her with this responsibility, characterising the polls as a fight for "democratic values".
Speaking to ANI, Meenakshi Natarajan, who is the All India Congress Committee (AICC) In-charge for Telangana, said, "I thank all the senior leaders and MLAs of the party for giving me this opportunity.The Congress is ready to face all kinds of situations.This is a fight of democratic values," he said.
Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections officially filed their nominations on Saturday from Madhya Pradesh.
Among those filing their nominations were BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh and party leader Rajneesh Agrawal, both of whom are vying for seats in the Upper House.
The filing process took place in the presence of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.
Following the submission of his nomination papers, Rajneesh Agrawal spoke to ANI to express his appreciation for the party's trust."I repeatedly express my gratitude to the central leadership, the state leadership, the national president, and everyone. This leadership takes decisions under a process," Agrawal stated.
BJP's Rajya Sabha candidate Tarun Chugh, on filing his nomination, expressed the sentiment, saying, "We are soldiers of the party; this is a party directive, and we are fulfilling it as party workers."
Chugh also expressed gratitude, stating, "I am deeply grateful to both the national leadership and the leadership in Madhya Pradesh. They have showered us with such abundant blessings."
Earlier, on June 3, the Election Commission issued a notification for biennial elections to 24 Rajya Sabha seats from ten states. This includes four seats each in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, three seats each in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, two seats in Jharkhand, and one seat each in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur and Meghalaya. Notification was also issued for the Rajya Sabha bypoll for a seat each in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Odisha.
Congress has released its list of seven candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. The list includes party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, who has been nominated from Karnataka.
The party has also nominated Mansoor Ali Khan and Pawan Khera from Karnataka, Meenakshi Natarajan from Madhya Pradesh.
Neeraj Dangi has been nominated from Rajasthan, while Praveen Chakravarty has been fielded from Tamil Nadu and Pranav Jha from Jharkhand.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Main thing is she's a local MP from Madhya Pradesh who has worked at the grassroots level, not some parachute candidate. That's what democracy should be about – giving voice to regional leaders. BJP also fielded strong candidates, but Tarun Chugh's "soldier" comment just shows how party discipline is valued over independent thinking in both parties.
Good to see regional representation! Rajya Sabha should be about giving voice to states, not just party agendas. Meenakshi ji has done good work in Telangana too. Wishing all candidates the best. 🙏
First time I'm hearing about her. Congress should focus on grassroots issues instead of these philosophical statements. Bhopal has water problems, unemployment, and farmers are struggling. These Rajya Sabha people come and go, but ground realities remain unchanged.
Both parties are masters of political theatre. BJP's Tarun Chugh saying "hum party ke sipahi hain" and Congress painting everything as democratic struggle – it's all the same script, different actors. The real issue is why 24 seats are being filled through elections while political parties keep treating Rajya Sabha as their personal fiefdom.
Actually Meenakshi ji has been working in Telangana for years and knows the issues there very well. Unlike some leaders who are just parachuted, she has done real work. But I wish Congress had clearer vision than just "this is a democratic fight" – what about policy alternatives? That would be more convincing.
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