Hardeep Singh Puri named BJP candidate for Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sabha bypoll

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri as its candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha by-election in Madhya Pradesh. The nomination follows the vacancy created by the resignation of L. Murugan, who stepped down from his position as Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Information and Broadcasting to focus on party organization in Tamil Nadu.

Puri, who serves as the Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, was notably absent from the BJP’s recent list of candidates for Rajya Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh. His current term as a Rajya Sabha member from Uttar Pradesh is set to expire in late November.

The Election Commission has scheduled the by-election for November 12. The nomination process concludes on November 2, with scrutiny following on November 3 and the deadline for withdrawals on November 5. Members of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly will cast votes to fill the seat, with results expected to be tallied on the same evening.