Rajya Sabha row: Congress MLAs detained outside Akbar Road HQ

High-voltage drama unfolded in the national capital on Friday as Madhya Pradesh Congress MLAs attempted to march from the party headquarters to Rashtrapati Bhavan to protest the rejection of Rajya Sabha candidate Meenakshi Natrajan’s nomination papers.

- ANAND SINGH

The Congress accused the BJP and the Election Commission of India (ECI) of being ‘partners in crime’ in what it called the latest instance of ‘seat chori’.

Delhi Police detained several Congress MLAs and leaders outside the party’s old headquarters at 24 Akbar Road after they climbed barricades placed near the main entrance.

The leaders had decided to march to Rashtrapati Bhavan after their request for a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu was declined. Madhya Pradesh Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar received the communication by email at 10.27am.

Natrajan attended a press conference ahead of the protest. She has challenged the rejection of her nomination papers over the alleged non... disclosure of details relating to a private complaint filed in Telangana. All Congress MLAs from the state, except Kamal Nath, attended the press conference and the protest.