The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday named Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha by-election in Madhya Pradesh, scheduled for November 12.

The bypoll has been necessitated by the resignation of former Union minister L Murugan, leaving a vacancy in the Upper House. The election will decide who occupies the seat among Madhya Pradesh's 11 Rajya Sabha seats.

Puri's name had reportedly been under consideration within the state BJP ahead of the announcement.

The party's Madhya Pradesh core committee had discussed potential candidates and was expected to send a shortlist of four to five names to the central leadership for a final decision.

 

With the nomination now announced, the focus shifts to the upcoming election and whether Puri will return to Parliament through Madhya Pradesh.

The development comes after Puri's name featured in discussions over the party's candidate selection.

The November 12 contest will fill the vacancy created by Murugan's resignation, completing the process of choosing a representative for the vacant seat.

The BJP's decision to field Puri places the Union minister at the centre of the upcoming Rajya Sabha contest in the state.