Hardeep Puri Enters Race for Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sabha Bypoll

Bhopal: Hardeep Singh Puri, a Union Minister and the BJP's nominee for the Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sabha bypoll, filed his nomination on Saturday. Senior party leaders joined him at the Vidhan Sabha, where he submitted his papers to the election office.

The bypoll was triggered by the resignation of Dr. L. Murugan from both the Union Cabinet and the Rajya Sabha. Following this, the BJP named Puri as its candidate for the seat. He arrived at the Vidhan Sabha premises on Saturday to complete the formalities.

Puri is widely expected to be elected unopposed in effect, as the Congress has not yet announced its candidate for the by-election. The BJP's numerical strength in the Assembly also gives its candidate a clear advantage. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and state BJP president Hemant Khandelwal, who is also an MLA, were present during the filing.

Before going to the Vidhan Sabha, Puri stopped at the Gurudwara Sahib in Arera Colony, where he paid obeisance and prayed for the happiness and prosperity of the people of the country.

Among those present were Deputy Chief Ministers Jagdish Devda and Rajendra Shukla, national cell convener Vishnu Dutt Sharma, and state cabinet ministers Kailash Vijayvargiya and Prahlad Patel. State office-bearers, public representatives and party workers were also there, along with state general secretary Rahul Kothari, councillor Monu Shikha Gohel and mandal president Abhishek Purohit.

Madhya Pradesh sends 11 members to the Rajya Sabha. Eight of these seats are held by the BJP and two by the Congress. The seat going to the bypoll is also likely to be won by the BJP, which would increase its representation from the state to nine.

Meanwhile, the Congress has continued to target the BJP over Puri's candidacy. State Congress chief Jitu Patwari said the BJP must give a firm answer to the nation regarding the documents, emails and meetings associated with Puri in connection with the Epstein matter.