On Wednesday, the BJP's Central Election Committee approved 74‑year‑old Hardeep Puri as its nominee for the lone Rajya Sabha seat in Madhya Pradesh, ending weeks of speculation about the minister’s future.
Puri, the ministry’s only Sikh cabinet member, had already entered the upper house twice – first from Uttar Pradesh in 2021 and now slated to finish a term that ends in November 2026. The seat opened after former Union Minister L Murugan resigned earlier this year, leaving the party to fill a vacancy that could shift the balance of power in the upper chamber.
Nominations open on 2 November, with scrutiny on 3 and a withdrawal deadline of 5. The election will be held on 12 November between 9 am and 4 pm, followed by counting at 5 pm, a schedule mirrored from last year’s Rajya Sabha polling in Uttar Pradesh.
Analysts say Puri’s selection signals the BJP’s intent to keep its energy portfolio in tight hands, while opposition parties may rally to challenge the party’s dominance. The outcome on 12 November could determine whether the coalition can maintain its majority after the state’s forthcoming assembly elections.