Congress fields Rajkumar Lohani vs Hardeep Puri in MP Rajya Sabha by-poll
Synopsis
Congress has fielded Rajkumar Lohani against Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri in the Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sabha by-election — a contest the BJP is near-certain to win given its 164-seat Assembly majority. The move is less about victory and more about keeping an opposition flag flying in a state where Congress has been reduced to a marginal force.
Key Takeaways
Congress named Rajkumar Lohani as its candidate for the Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sabha by-election on 2 November 2026 .
BJP has fielded Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri , who filed his nomination on 31 October alongside Chief Minister Mohan Yadav .
The BJP holds 164 of 229 effective Assembly seats , giving it a commanding numerical advantage.
The seat became vacant after L.
Murugan resigned from the Rajya Sabha on 14 October to focus on BJP's Tamil Nadu expansion; his term ran until 2 April 2030 .
Polling, if required, is scheduled for 12 November ; the process concludes by 16 November .
Madhya Pradesh has 11 Rajya Sabha seats : BJP holds 8 , Congress 2 , with 1 currently vacant.
The Indian National Congress on Monday, 2 November 2026, named Rajkumar Lohani as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha by-election in Madhya Pradesh, setting up a direct contest against Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, whom the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded for the vacant seat. Lohani filed his nomination papers on the final day of the nomination window, with Congress MLA and Deputy Leader of Opposition Hemant Katare serving as his proposer.
How the Nomination Unfolded
Congress MLA from Bhopal North, Atif Aqeel, and several party workers accompanied Lohani to the Madhya Pradesh state Assembly for the nomination filing. Notably, no senior Congress leaders were present at the occasion — a detail that underscored the party's limited expectation of victory, even as it chose to mount a political challenge.
Puri, the Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, had filed his nomination on 31 October in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, state BJP president Hemant Khandelwal, and other senior party leaders — a contrast in optics that reflects the BJP's confidence in retaining the seat.
Why the BJP Holds a Decisive Edge
The numbers strongly favour the ruling party. The BJP holds 164 MLAs in the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly, against a considerably smaller Congress tally. The effective strength for this by-election stands at 229, meaning the BJP's numerical dominance makes a Congress victory a near-mathematical impossibility. Rajya Sabha members from Madhya Pradesh are elected by the state's Assembly members through proportional representation.
The Congress's decision to contest anyway ensures a live election rather than an uncontested walk-over for Puri, giving the opposition a platform to highlight its presence in the state and keep the BJP on the record.
What Triggered the By-Election
The seat fell vacant after Union Minister of State L. Murugan resigned from the Rajya Sabha on 14 October. His term was originally scheduled to run until 2 April 2030. Murugan quit both the Union Council of Ministers and the Upper House to concentrate on consolidating the BJP's organisational strength in Tamil Nadu.
The election has also attracted attention because Puri's existing Rajya Sabha term — representing Uttar Pradesh — is due to expire on 25 November. A victory here would secure him a fresh term through 2030.
Election Schedule and Madhya Pradesh's Rajya Sabha Composition
According to the Election Commission of India (ECI) schedule, scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on 3 November. Candidates may withdraw their nominations until 5 November. If polling is required, it will be held on 12 November between 9 am and 4 pm, with counting beginning at 5 pm. The entire process is to be completed by 16 November.
Madhya Pradesh has 11 Rajya Sabha seats in total. The BJP currently holds 8, Congress holds 2, and 1 seat — the one under contest — is vacant. A BJP win here would extend its Upper House tally in the state to nine.
Point of View
The BJP's victory in this by-election is not in doubt — making the real story the political calculus behind each party's move. For the BJP, parachuting Puri into a safe MP seat days before his UP term expires is a seamless transfer of Upper House continuity for a senior minister. For Congress, contesting a near-unwinnable seat reflects a party that cannot afford to be seen as absent from electoral contests in states where it is already weak. The absence of senior Congress leaders at Lohani's nomination filing speaks louder than any official statement about the party's true investment in this race. What matters beyond the result is whether Congress can use the campaign period to register a visible opposition presence in Bhopal ahead of any future state-level mobilisation.
NationPress
2 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is contesting the Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sabha by-election 2026?
The BJP has fielded Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, while the Congress has nominated Rajkumar Lohani. Lohani filed his papers on 2 November 2026, the last day of the nomination process.
Why did the Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sabha seat fall vacant?
The seat became vacant after Union Minister of State L. Murugan resigned from the Rajya Sabha on 14 October 2026. He stepped down from both the Upper House and the Union Council of Ministers to concentrate on strengthening the BJP in Tamil Nadu; his term was originally due to end on 2 April 2030.
What are the chances of the Congress candidate winning?
The Congress faces very long odds. The BJP holds 164 MLAs in the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly, against a considerably smaller Congress presence, giving the ruling party a decisive numerical advantage in an election decided by Assembly members.
What is the polling schedule for the MP Rajya Sabha by-election?
According to the Election Commission of India, polling — if required — will be held on 12 November 2026 between 9 am and 4 pm, with counting at 5 pm. Nominations can be withdrawn until 5 November, and the entire process is to be completed by 16 November.
Why is Hardeep Singh Puri contesting from Madhya Pradesh?
Puri's existing Rajya Sabha seat, representing Uttar Pradesh, is due to expire on 25 November 2026. A win in the Madhya Pradesh by-election would secure him a fresh term running until April 2030, ensuring uninterrupted Upper House membership.
