BJP names Puri for Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sabha by-election

The Bharatiya Janata Party has named Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri as its candidate for a Rajya Sabha by-election in Madhya Pradesh, scheduled for November 12. The nomination puts Puri forward for a seat left vacant by L. Murugan, but does not itself determine whether Puri will remain in the Union Cabinet. The BJP announced its choice on October 28. Puri is currently a Rajya Sabha member from Uttar Pradesh, where his term is due to end on November 25, 2026. He was not included in the party’s earlier list of nominees for Rajya Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, prompting speculation about his parliamentary and ministerial future. The Madhya Pradesh seat became vacant after Murugan resigned from the Rajya Sabha on October 14. His term had been due to continue until April 2, 2030. Murugan also left the Union Council of Ministers, where he had served as Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Information and Broadcasting. One report said he wanted to focus on strengthening the BJP in Tamil Nadu. The Election Commission’s schedule sets November 2 as the last day for filing nominations and November 5 as the deadline to withdraw. Polling is scheduled for November 12, with the...