BJP Names Hardeep Singh Puri for Madhya Pradesh By-Election

The Bharatiya Janata Party named Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha by-election from Madhya Pradesh, scheduled for November 12, 2026. Puri is set to file his nomination papers in Bhopal on October 31, accompanied by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.

The vacancy arose after Union Minister L. Murugan resigned on October 13 to focus on party organization in Tamil Nadu. The nomination ensures Puri remains in the Upper House and the Union Cabinet after he was excluded from the candidate list for the October 16 elections in Uttar Pradesh, where his current term expires on November 25.

The selection has drawn criticism from the Indian National Congress, which questioned the decision to field a non-local candidate over a leader from Madhya Pradesh. The opposition also demanded explanations regarding Puri's alleged appearance in files released by the United States Department of Justice concerning Jeffrey Epstein. Despite these challenges, the BJP holds a significant numerical advantage in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly, controlling 164 of the 230 seats.