Bhopal, Nov 5: Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has secured an unopposed return to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh after the rejection of two independent candidates’ nomination papers left him as the sole contender in the by-election. The outcome gives the BJP another uncontested entry to the Upper House, with Puri set to serve the remaining tenure of the seat vacated by Union Minister L. Murugan, whose original term runs until April 2, 2030.
The Returning Officer cleared Puri’s election on Thursday, the final day for withdrawal of nominations. His election became virtually certain a day earlier when authorities rejected the nomination papers of both independent candidates, including one who had the Congress party’s backing.
With no other eligible candidate remaining in the contest, the election concluded without polling. The BJP’s Madhya Pradesh president, Hemant Khandelwal, received the certificate of election on Puri’s behalf, as the Union Petroleum Minister was in Delhi.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav congratulated Puri on his election, also conveying greetings on behalf of BJP national president Nitin Nabin. Speaking to IANS, Yadav said Khandelwal and other party office-bearers had collected the certificate because Puri could not attend the proceedings in the state capital.
Yadav also described the election, which came shortly before Diwali, as a matter of happiness for the party.
The by-election followed Murugan’s resignation from both his ministerial position and Rajya Sabha membership. The BJP subsequently nominated Puri to contest the vacancy.
Murugan had explained that he wanted to return to grassroots politics and concentrate on strengthening the BJP’s organisational presence in Tamil Nadu ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
His departure from the Upper House created a vacancy despite his parliamentary tenure originally extending until April 2, 2030. Puri will now occupy the seat for the unexpired portion of that term rather than begin a fresh six-year Rajya Sabha tenure.
The Madhya Pradesh by-election therefore concludes without a vote, following the rejection of the rival nominations and the absence of any other candidate in the final contest.
