Eye on Punjab poll, BJP fields Harshdeep Puri for RS from Madhya Pradesh

NEW DELHI: Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri was Wednesday named BJP’s candidate for RS by-election from MP, clearing the path for his continuation in govt following weeks of uncertainty after he was not nominated from UP, the state he had represented as a parliamentarian since 2018.By-election from MP was necessitated by the resignation of L Murugan from the council of ministers and RS three years before his term was to end.Puri’s term ends Nov 25, and he is set to be elected by Nov 16, the deadline for polling to be over. BJP’s majority in MP assembly guarantees his victory.BJP brass’ decision not to name him as party’s nominees from UP had surprised political circles as Puri (74) is the lone Sikh face in govt. Sikh-majority Punjab is going to polls with four other states, including UP. However, BJP’s calculation for UP is now clear: it chose to stick to a rainbow of caste coalitions while picking candidates and create vacancy for Puri from another state.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.