Hardeep Puri elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh
Synopsis
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has sailed into the Rajya Sabha unopposed after the only two rival nominees — including a Congress-backed candidate — had their papers rejected. He now fills the Upper House seat left by L. Murugan, whose surprise resignation to focus on Tamil Nadu ahead of 2029 triggered the entire by-election.
Key Takeaways
Hardeep Singh Puri was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh on 5 November 2026 .
Nomination papers of two independent candidates, including one backed by the Congress , were rejected by the Returning Officer.
The election certificate was received by BJP's Madhya Pradesh state president Hemant Khandelwal on Puri's behalf.
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Union Minister L.
Murugan , who vacated the seat to focus on BJP's expansion in Tamil Nadu ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections .
Puri will serve the remaining term of the seat until 2 April 2030 .
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh on Thursday, 5 November 2026, after the nomination papers of the only two rival candidates — including one backed by the Indian National Congress (Congress) — were rejected by the Returning Officer. With no challengers remaining, Puri's election was confirmed on the last date for withdrawal of nominations.
How the Election Played Out
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had fielded Hardeep Singh Puri as its candidate for the by-election to the seat vacated by Union Minister L. Murugan, who resigned both his ministerial berth and his Rajya Sabha membership. The rejection of two independent nominations — one of them reportedly supported by the Congress — effectively cleared Puri's path to an uncontested victory.
Since Puri was in Delhi on the day of the formal declaration, the party's Madhya Pradesh state president, Hemant Khandelwal, received the certificate of election on his behalf, accompanied by other senior BJP office-bearers.
CM Mohan Yadav Congratulates Puri
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav extended congratulations to the Union Petroleum Minister on his return to the Upper House. 'I would congratulate him on his re-election, also on behalf of BJP National President Nitin Nabin,' Yadav said. 'Since Hardeep Puri Ji was busy in Delhi today, the party's state president Hemant Khandelwal, along with other party office-bearers, received the election certificate on his behalf.'
Yadav added: 'Receiving this gift of election just before Diwali is a matter of great joy for us, and we all share his happiness.'
Why the By-Election Was Needed
The vacancy arose after L. Murugan stepped down from his Rajya Sabha seat ahead of its scheduled expiry on 2 April 2030, citing a desire to return to grassroots politics and focus on consolidating the BJP's footprint in Tamil Nadu ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. His dual resignation — from the cabinet and the Upper House — triggered this by-election.
Hardeep Singh Puri will now serve the remainder of Murugan's term, which runs until 2 April 2030.
Puri's Political Standing
Puri, who currently holds the Petroleum and Natural Gas portfolio in the Union Cabinet, has been a Rajya Sabha member before and is considered a key face of BJP's technocratic governance wing. His return to the Upper House secures his ministerial tenure and consolidates the party's strength in the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh — a state where the BJP holds a commanding majority in the state assembly. Notably, this is the second Rajya Sabha vacancy from Madhya Pradesh to be filled through a by-election in recent years.
What Happens Next
With the election certificate formally issued, Puri is expected to continue his ministerial responsibilities without interruption. The BJP's smooth management of the by-election — secured through the rejection of rival nominations — signals the party's firm grip on the state's political machinery ahead of future electoral cycles.
Point of View
A signal that the party is already in mobilisation mode for Tamil Nadu in 2029. For Puri, Rajya Sabha membership is an operational necessity: without it, his cabinet berth is at risk. The BJP's ability to manage the entire sequence — resignation, nomination, rejection of rivals, and election — without contest reflects the structural advantage incumbency confers in state-level Upper House polls.
NationPress
5 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Hardeep Puri elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha?
Hardeep Singh Puri was elected unopposed because the nomination papers of both rival candidates — including one backed by the Congress — were rejected by the Returning Officer, leaving him as the sole candidate in the Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sabha by-election.
Why did the Rajya Sabha by-election from Madhya Pradesh take place?
The by-election was necessitated by the resignation of Union Minister L. Murugan, who stepped down from both his cabinet post and his Rajya Sabha membership to return to grassroots politics and strengthen the BJP in Tamil Nadu ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
How long will Hardeep Puri serve as the Rajya Sabha member from Madhya Pradesh?
Puri will serve the remainder of L. Murugan's original term, which is slated to end on 2 April 2030.
Who received the election certificate on behalf of Hardeep Puri?
BJP's Madhya Pradesh state president Hemant Khandelwal, accompanied by other party office-bearers, received the certificate of election on Puri's behalf, as the Union Minister was in Delhi on the day of the formal declaration.
What did Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav say about Puri's election?
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav congratulated Puri on his re-election to the Upper House, also conveying wishes on behalf of BJP National President Nitin Nabin. He described the timing — just before Diwali — as a matter of 'great joy' for the party.
