Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president Mahesh Kumar Goud asserted that the Congress was inquiring into how details related to Meenakshi Natarajan entered the public domain and promised action against those responsible for leaking information.

The controversy emerged publicly on June 8 and was subsequently used to influence the nomination process in Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sabha elections, he said in an informal chat with the media.

He alleged political interference in the rejection of the nomination of Meenakshi Natarajan, and claimed the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Central government were responsible. Ms. Natarajan’s nomination was rejected despite there being no FIR, crime number or formal criminal case against her and the Returning Officer acted under political pressure.

Explanation sought from Shabbir Ali

Responding to allegations made by senior Congress leader Mohammed Ali Shabbir that money was involved in granting party posts, he said there was no need to react hastily. An explanation has been sought from Mr. Shabbir Ali, he said and expressed disappointment over remarks that he said demeaned women.

The TPCC president also targeted BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao challenging him to explain allegations relating to financial mismanagement, land issues and debt accumulation during the BRS regime before undertaking political campaigns such as bus yatras and padayatras.

He further predicted that the BJP would face significant setbacks in the next parliamentary elections and claimed that all eight BJP MPs from Telangana would be defeated.