BJP fields Hardeep Singh Puri as its candidate for Rajya Sabha bypoll from MP

NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday nominated senior leader and Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri for the Rajya Sabha bypoll in Madhya Pradesh.According to an official press release issued from the BJP's central office on Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, the party's Central Election Committee cleared Puri's name for the Upper House seat."The Central Election Committee of the Bharatiya Janata Party has given its approval to the name for the upcoming Rajya Sabha bye-election 2026 in Madhya Pradesh: Hardeep Singh Puri," the statement read.The bypoll was necessitated by the resignation of former Union minister L Murugan, who vacated the seat on October 14. His term in the Rajya Sabha was originally scheduled to end on April 2, 2030.The Election Commission announced the schedule for the bypoll on October 22.According to the schedule, the notification for the election will be issued on October 26. The last date for filing nominations is November 2, while scrutiny will take place on November 3. Candidates can withdraw their nominations until November 5.Polling will be held on November 12 from 9am to 4pm, followed by counting at 5pm on the same day. The entire election process is scheduled to be completed by November 16, the poll panel said.Puri, a former diplomat who later entered politics, currently serves as a Union Cabinet minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government and holds the petroleum and natural gas portfolio.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.