Hardeep Singh Puri files Rajya Sabha nomination from Madhya Pradesh
Synopsis
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri formally entered the Rajya Sabha by-election race from Madhya Pradesh on 31 October, backed by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. The seat fell vacant after L Murugan's surprise resignation in October, and with BJP holding a commanding majority in the state Assembly, Puri's path to the upper house looks clear — though an independent wildcard and one undecided MLA are keeping watchers alert.
Key Takeaways
Hardeep Singh Puri filed his Rajya Sabha by-election nomination from Madhya Pradesh on 31 October 2026 .
The vacancy arose after L Murugan resigned from the upper house on 13 October , cutting short a term that was due until April 2030 .
Voting is scheduled for 12 November ; the BJP named Puri as its candidate on 28 October .
Effective Assembly strength for the vote is 229 after Congress MLA Mukesh Malhotra is excluded from participation.
Guest faculty member Haripal Bihare of Betul is reportedly seeking independent support, while the stance of Bina MLA Nirmala Sapre remains under watch.
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday, 31 October 2026, filed his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha by-election from Madhya Pradesh, formally entering the race for the upper house seat vacated earlier this month. Puri arrived at the Vidhan Sabha premises in Bhopal at approximately 11.30 am to complete the formalities.
Who Accompanied Puri
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Hemant Khandelwal accompanied Puri to the Vidhan Sabha. Before filing his papers, Puri paid obeisance at a gurdwara and also visited Karuna Dham Ashram in Bhopal, where he sought the blessings of Gurudev Sudesh Shandilya Maharaj. State minister Krishna Gaur had signed as the proposer for Puri's nomination on Friday at the BJP office.
How the Vacancy Arose
The BJP had announced Puri as its candidate for the Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sabha seat on 28 October. The vacancy arose after Union Minister L Murugan, whose term was originally scheduled to run until April 2030, resigned from the upper house on 13 October. The by-election is scheduled for 12 November.
Numbers That Will Decide the Outcome
In the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly, the normal quota required to win a Rajya Sabha seat stands at 116 votes. However, Congress MLA Mukesh Malhotra will not be able to participate in the voting, bringing the effective strength to 229. The precise winning quota will be determined as per the applicable rules. With a comfortable majority in the state Assembly, the BJP is well-placed to ensure Puri's smooth return to the Rajya Sabha.
Wild Cards and Dissent
The position of Bina MLA Nirmala Sapre, who has reportedly been associated with both parties in different contexts, is being closely watched. Separately, a guest faculty member, Haripal Bihare of Betul, is reportedly mustering MLA support for an independent bid, claiming that members from both the BJP and Congress have assured him of backing. Meanwhile, police took preventive action against several Youth Congress leaders in Bhopal ahead of the nomination filing, amid expectations of protests.
What Happens Next
With Puri's nomination now on record and the BJP enjoying a strong legislative majority in Madhya Pradesh, his election on 12 November is widely expected to be a formality. The contest, however, will be watched for any last-minute surprises from independents or cross-voting within either party camp.
Point of View
Ostensibly to contest elsewhere, reshuffled a sitting minister's parliamentary base, and Puri is now being slotted in as a stabilising move. The independent candidacy of Haripal Bihare and the ambiguous alignment of Nirmala Sapre are footnotes today, but cross-voting — however unlikely — has surprised Indian state legislatures before. The real story is less about this seat and more about how the BJP manages its Rajya Sabha arithmetic ahead of the next session.
NationPress
31 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is there a Rajya Sabha by-election from Madhya Pradesh?
The by-election was triggered after Union Minister L Murugan resigned from the Rajya Sabha on 13 October 2026, vacating a seat whose term was originally set to run until April 2030. The BJP named Hardeep Singh Puri as its candidate on 28 October to fill the vacancy.
When is the Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sabha by-election voting?
Voting for the Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sabha by-election is scheduled for 12 November 2026. Hardeep Singh Puri filed his nomination on 31 October.
How many votes does Puri need to win the Rajya Sabha seat?
In the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly, the normal winning quota is 116 votes. With Congress MLA Mukesh Malhotra unable to participate, the effective Assembly strength drops to 229, and the precise quota will be calculated under applicable election rules. The BJP holds a comfortable majority.
Who accompanied Hardeep Singh Puri during the nomination filing?
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and state BJP President Hemant Khandelwal accompanied Puri to the Vidhan Sabha. State minister Krishna Gaur had signed as the proposer for his nomination the previous day.
Is there any opposition to Puri's candidature?
Guest faculty member Haripal Bihare of Betul is reportedly seeking MLA support to contest as an independent, claiming backing from members of both parties. The stance of Bina MLA Nirmala Sapre, said to have associations with both parties, is also being monitored ahead of the 12 November vote.
