Kharge Claims PM Modi Engineered Key Appointments to Undermine Congress Leadership Structure
Kharge links Congress setbacks to key appointments under PM Modi.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of placing loyal officers in key positions to undermine the Congress party and democratic institutions, following the rejection of Meenakshi Natarajan's Rajya Sabha nomination in Madhya Pradesh. Kharge made the remarks while speaking to reporters at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru after receiving his certificate of election as a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka. The Congress leader alleged that the rejection of Natarajan’s nomination was not merely an administrative decision but part of a broader political effort aimed at weakening the opposition.
Describing the development as “illegal, immoral, and anti-democratic,” Kharge claimed that the rejection of the nomination papers could not have occurred without the knowledge or direction of the Prime Minister. He alleged that the ruling establishment was deliberately attempting to damage the Congress party and erode democratic processes. The Congress President further accused the government of positioning individuals sympathetic to the ruling party in influential administrative roles, including returning officers responsible for overseeing electoral procedures.
According to Kharge, such appointments were being used to influence decisions that affect opposition parties. The controversy stems from the rejection of Meenakshi Natarajan’s candidature for the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh. Congress leaders have questioned the validity of the decision and demanded greater transparency regarding the grounds on which the nomination was rejected. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has not immediately responded to Kharge’s latest allegations.
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The issue is expected to add to the ongoing political confrontation between the ruling party and the opposition, with Congress leaders likely to pursue the matter through legal and political channels in the coming days. Natarajan, a senior Congress leader and former Member of Parliament, has held several key positions within the party over the years.
The rejection of her nomination has become a fresh flashpoint in the broader debate over electoral fairness, administrative neutrality, and the functioning of democratic institutions in the country.
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