BJP fields Hardeep Singh Puri for Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sabha by-election

The Bharatiya Janata Party has announced the name of Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri for the Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sabha by-election. According to a report by The Times of India, the BJP's Central Election Committee has approved Puri's candidacy.

74-year-old Hardeep Singh Puri is currently a Rajya Sabha member from Uttar Pradesh and his current term is set to conclude on 25 November. Thus, his candidacy from Madhya Pradesh will pave the way for his return to the Upper House. Puri's name was not included in the list of eight candidates previously announced by the BJP for the Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha elections.

This by-election in Madhya Pradesh is being held following the resignation of Union Minister of State L. Murugan. Murugan resigned from the Rajya Sabha on 14 October to strengthen the BJP in Tamil Nadu. His term was to conclude on 2 April 2030.

Voting for this Madhya Pradesh seat will be held on 12 November and the results will be counted on the same day. The last date for filing nominations is 2 November. If Puri is elected, he will serve for the remainder of Murugan's term, i.e., until 2 April 2030, which is a period of approximately 3 years and 5 months.

As the BJP holds a majority in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly, its candidate may gain an advantage in this election. Hardeep Singh Puri is a former diplomat.