The BJP has nominated Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri for the upcoming Rajya Sabha bypoll in Madhya Pradesh, ending speculation over his parliamentary future after he was excluded from the party’s list of candidates for Uttar Pradesh. The announcement comes ahead of the end of his current Rajya Sabha term from Uttar Pradesh in November.
The bypoll has been necessitated by the resignation of former Union Minister L Murugan, who vacated his Madhya Pradesh seat earlier this month. With the BJP holding a substantial majority in the state Assembly, Puri is expected to have a clear path to the Upper House, although the formal outcome will depend on the election process.
Hardeep Puri’s Rajya Sabha bypoll nomination also comes at a time when the BJP is preparing for upcoming electoral contests in several states, including Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.
Hardeep Puri’s Rajya Sabha bypoll nomination ends uncertainty
The BJP’s decision to field Puri follows its announcement of eight candidates for the Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha elections earlier this month, a list that did not include the Union minister. The omission had prompted questions about whether he would be renominated to the Upper House.
Hardeep Puri, 74, has represented Uttar Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha and has served as a Union Cabinet minister under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A former diplomat, he currently heads the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and has previously contested Lok Sabha elections, though he did not win a seat in the Lower House.
Hardeep Puri’s Rajya Sabha bypoll gives him a fresh route to continue as a member of Parliament as his Uttar Pradesh term approaches its end. The BJP’s central election committee approved his candidature, according to the party’s announcement.
His selection also means that the Madhya Pradesh seat will be contested by a senior Union minister rather than a new entrant to parliamentary politics. The party has not publicly detailed all the considerations behind its choice.
Also Read | Ladakh’s liquor ban debate: 5 key issues Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra wants stakeholders to address
Why the Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sabha seat fell vacant
The bypoll became necessary after L Murugan resigned from the Rajya Sabha and the Union Council of Ministers in October. Murugan, who had served as Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Information and Broadcasting, said he wanted to focus on strengthening the BJP in Tamil Nadu.
His Rajya Sabha term had originally been scheduled to run until April 2030. His resignation therefore created a vacancy well before the scheduled end of the term.
Hardeep Puri’s Rajya Sabha bypoll will fill this vacant seat in Madhya Pradesh. The BJP has a strong numerical advantage in the 230-member state Assembly, where it has 164 MLAs, according to reports. A total of 116 votes are required to secure the seat, making the party well placed in the contest.
The nomination has also drawn criticism from the Congress, which has questioned the BJP’s decision in light of recent scrutiny surrounding Puri’s reported links and communications with Jeffrey Epstein. Such references and political allegations do not, by themselves, establish wrongdoing. Puri has previously said his interactions were limited and unrelated to criminal activity.
Also Read | Delhi traders warn of ₹10,000 crore losses as Rahul Gandhi’s November 1 rally sparks major concerns
Rajya Sabha bypoll schedule and what happens next
The Election Commission has scheduled polling for November 12. The nomination process closes on November 2, followed by scrutiny of nomination papers on November 3. Candidates can withdraw their nominations until November 5.
Voting will take place from 9 am to 4 pm on November 12, with counting scheduled for 5 pm the same day. The election process is due to be completed by November 16.
Hardeep Puri’s Rajya Sabha bypoll will be closely watched because it will determine whether the Union minister secures another term in the Upper House. The result will also clarify the BJP’s choice for the vacant Madhya Pradesh seat after the party opted not to renominate him from Uttar Pradesh.
With the polling date approaching, the next key step is the filing and scrutiny of nominations. The outcome will be confirmed after the election process concludes.