Sharmila accuses ECI of acting in BJP’s interest over Meenakshi Natarajan nomination

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Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Y. S. Sharmila. File | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Y. S. Sharmila on Wednesday (June 10, 2026) accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of working hand in glove with the BJP leadership “to trample upon the democratic values built over years”.

From 'Vote Chori' to 'Seat Chori' ! 'The Election Commission of BJP' is now fully hand-in-glow with Modi @narendramodi & Co. to trample upon the democratic values built over years.The rejection of Ms. Meenakshi Natarajan's Rajya Sabha nomination is yet another example of how… pic.twitter.com/aBQbNShZZt

In a post on X, Ms. Sharmila called the poll panel “The Election Commission of BJP” and said the rejection of Meenakshi Natarajan’s Rajya Sabha nomination was “yet another example of how constitutional institutions are increasingly being bent to serve political interests”. “Such actions only reinforce concerns that independent bodies are being pressured to act in a manner that benefits the ruling dispensation, eroding public trust in the democratic process,” she said.

“Democracy cannot survive without strong, independent institutions, and every attempt to undermine them must be challenged with resolve and conviction,” she said. She opened the post with the line, “From ‘Vote Chori’ to ‘Seat Chori’!”