New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday named Union minister of petroleum and natural gas Hardeep Singh Puri as its candidate for the November 12 Rajya Sabha bypoll in Madhya Pradesh.
The seat fell vacant after the incumbent, Union minister of state for information and broadcasting, L Murugan resigned on October 13.
According to people aware of the matter, the BJP’s Madhya Pradesh unit had sent a panel of four or five names for the bypoll, which did not include Puri’s. However, the BJP’s central election committee approved Puri’s candidature, the party said in a statement.
As per procedure, counting will occur that same evening after voting concludes.
Puri’s term as a Rajya Sabha member from Uttar Pradesh is due to end on November 25. The BJP did not renominate him from the state earlier this month, instead nominated eight new faces for the upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.
A party functionary aware of the details said, the party opted to send all eight candidates from UP to accommodate various caste groups. “Since it was an election bound state, representation of different castes had to be ensured,” the functionary said.
Puri, 74, was first nominated to the Rajya Sabha in January 2018 and was re-elected in 2020. He was sworn in as a Union minister in September 2017 and served as minister of state (independent charge) for housing and urban affairs before taking charge of the petroleum and natural gas ministry.
{{/usCountry}}Puri, 74, was first nominated to the Rajya Sabha in January 2018 and was re-elected in 2020. He was sworn in as a Union minister in September 2017 and served as minister of state (independent charge) for housing and urban affairs before taking charge of the petroleum and natural gas ministry.
{{/usCountry}}Murugan resigned from the Rajya Sabha and the Union council of ministers on October 13, although his term in the Upper House was due to end on April 2, 2030. He also held the portfolio of minister of state for information and broadcasting and parliamentary affairs.
In his resignation letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Murugan said he wanted to focus on strengthening the BJP in Tamil Nadu.
Members of legislative assemblies elect Rajya Sabha members. With the BJP ruling Madhya Pradesh, its candidate is expected to have an advantage in the bypoll.
EOM