BJP names Hardeep Singh Puri as candidate for Rajya Sabha polls in MP

Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri. File | Photo credit: PTI

The BJP on Wednesday (October 28, 2026) announced Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri as its candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha by-election from Madhya Pradesh.

The by-poll for the seat vacated by former Union minister L. Murugan is scheduled to be held on November 12.

Mr. Murugan, who was Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Information and Broadcasting, quit the Union Council of Ministers and the Rajya Sabha on October 14. His term was due to end on 2 April 2030.

BJP names Hardeep Singh Puri as its Rajya Sabha poll candidate from Madhya Pradesh https://t.co/9BNT2Ke5ND

— ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2026

Mr. Puri, a Rajya Sabha member from Uttar Pradesh, was not renominated by the party when the elections were held earlier this month. This led to speculation that he could lose his cabinet seat as his term ends on 25 November 2026.

According to the procedure, the counting will take place on the day of the vote itself, i.e. November 12. The last date for filing nominations would be November 2 and the last date for withdrawing candidature would be November 5.

The entire election process will be completed by November 16.

Published – 28 Oct 2026 14:22 IST