Hardeep Singh Puri Files Nomination for Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sabha By-Election
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri files nomination for the Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sabha by-election following L. Murugan's resignation.
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri officially filed his nomination papers on Saturday for the upcoming Rajya Sabha by-election from Madhya Pradesh. The veteran diplomat-turned-politician is contesting as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate to fill the lone vacancy in the Upper House from the state.
A Spiritual Start in Bhopal
Before heading to file his nomination, the Union Minister visited the Karunadham Ashram in Bhopal, marking a spiritual beginning to his electoral process in the state.
The Road to Nomination
The BJP's Central Election Committee had previously announced Puri's candidature on Wednesday. In an official press release from the party's central office on Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, the committee confirmed its approval for Hardeep Singh Puri to represent Madhya Pradesh in the Council of States.
Why the By-Election?
The necessity for this by-poll arose following the resignation of former Union Minister L. Murugan on October 14, 2026. Murugan's term in the Upper House was originally intended to continue until April 2, 2030, leaving a significant gap that the BJP is now seeking to fill with Puri.
Election Timeline and Key Dates
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has laid out a strict schedule to ensure the election process is completed by mid-November. Here are the critical dates for the by-poll:
- Notification Issued: October 26, 2026
- Last Date for Nomination: November 2, 2026
- Scrutiny of Nominations: November 3, 2026
- Withdrawal Deadline: November 5, 2026
- Polling Date: November 12, 2026 (9:00 AM to 4:00 PM)
- Counting of Votes: November 12, 2026 (Starting at 5:00 PM)
The ECI has stated that the entire electoral process is expected to be finalized before November 16, 2026.