Puri, who has steered India’s foreign affairs since 2022, will now contend for a seat in the upper house, a move that underscores the party’s reliance on seasoned leaders for legislative influence.
BJP spokesperson Shankar Prasad said the decision reflects the party’s strategy to deploy high‑profile ministers who can command respect across party lines and secure a majority in the Rajya Sabha.
Madhya Pradesh, with 11 Rajya Sabha seats up for contest, has historically been a volatile battleground; Puri’s candidacy is seen as a bid to consolidate the party’s footing in the state’s political calculus.
The nomination will be formally filed with the Election Commission by November 15, after which the state’s legislative assembly will vote on the candidate. The result will shape the balance of power in the upper house as the 2027 elections loom.