Hardeep Singh Puri Elected Unopposed to Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has been elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh. The upper house seat became vacant following the resignation of former Union Minister of State Dr. L. Murugan.
What happened
Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri was officially declared elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh on November 5, 2026. The by-election was necessitated due to the resignation of former Union Minister of State Dr. L. Murugan, who resigned from the Union Council of Ministers and the Rajya Sabha on October 14, 2026.
The Election Commission of India had announced the by-election schedule on October 22, 2026. The Bharatiya Janata Party Central Election Committee named Puri as its official nominee on October 28, 2026. Puri filed his nomination papers on October 31, 2026, at the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly in Bhopal in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, Deputy Chief Ministers Rajendra Shukla and Jagdish Devda, and other party leaders.
The nomination papers of two independent candidates, Rajkumar Lohani and Kante Sayanna, were rejected during scrutiny on November 3, 2026. Lohani failed to submit the mandatory Form 26 affidavit, while Sayanna failed to meet the required proposer signature criteria. With no other rival candidates remaining after the withdrawal deadline on November 5, 2026, Returning Officer Umesh Kumar Sharma declared Hardeep Singh Puri elected unopposed under Form 24 of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961.
Important dates
| Resignation of Dr. L. Murugan | 14 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Election Commission Announcement | 22 October 2026 |
| Filing of Nomination by Hardeep Singh Puri | 31 October 2026 |
| Scrutiny of Nominations | 3 November 2026 |
| Unopposed Election Declaration | 5 November 2026 |
📌 Static GK links
- Article 80 of the Indian Constitution deals with the composition of the Council of States, commonly known as the Rajya Sabha.
- The maximum strength of the Rajya Sabha is 250, out of which 238 represent the states and union territories, and 12 are nominated by the President.
- Madhya Pradesh has 11 seats allocated in the Rajya Sabha.
What candidates should do
- Aspirants should note the constitutional provisions regarding the Rajya Sabha under Article 80, including member tenure and seat allocation for Madhya Pradesh.
- Keep track of recent ministerial portfolios and parliamentary by-elections for current affairs sections in Banking, SSC, and UPSC exams.
PrepZen analysis
Parliamentary by-elections involving Union Ministers are important for competitive examinations as they touch upon both current developments and constitutional provisions regarding Parliament. Questions in exams like SSC and UPSC often link such appointments to Articles of the Constitution, state representation counts, and the role of the Election Commission of India under election conduct rules.
Practice questions
Q1. Hardeep Singh Puri was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from which state in November 2026?
Q2. Which Article of the Indian Constitution deals with the composition of the Rajya Sabha?
Q3. Who is the incumbent Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh as of November 2026?
The upper house seat fell vacant after Union Minister L. Murugan resigned.
Puri represents Madhya Pradesh in the Council of States.
🎯 Key Point: Hardeep Singh Puri elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh.
FAQs
Why was the Rajya Sabha by-election held in Madhya Pradesh?
The by-election was necessitated by the resignation of former Union Minister of State Dr. L. Murugan from the Rajya Sabha on October 14, 2026.
Which ministry does Hardeep Singh Puri head?
Hardeep Singh Puri serves as the Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas.
Under which rule was the election certificate issued to Hardeep Singh Puri?
The election certificate was issued under Form 24 of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961.
Who served as the Returning Officer for the by-election?
Umesh Kumar Sharma served as the Returning Officer for the Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sabha by-election.
What is the total number of elected members in the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly?
The Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly consists of 230 elected members.
Sources and references
- newsonair.gov.in (newsonair.gov.in) Official
- thehindu.com (www.thehindu.com)
- ddindia.co.in (ddindia.co.in)
- newindianexpress.com (www.newindianexpress.com)
Prepared by PrepZen for exam preparation. Consult the linked sources for original announcements and current details. Corrections policy. Spotted an error? Write to prepzen.app@gmail.com.
Practice Quiz — 7 November 2026
Q1. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from which state?
Q2. Which ministry won the 1st position in the category 'Maximum Buildings Solarized by Central Ministries/Departments' at the PM Surya Ghar Excellence Award 2026?
Q3. Which state received the highest allocation in the ₹1,09,019 crore monthly tax devolution released by the Centre?
Q4. What is the total financial outlay approved by the Union Cabinet for the VISTAR scheme for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31?
Q5. Which indigenously developed submersible will be deployed under India's Samudrayaan mission to carry three aquanauts to depths of 6,000 metres?
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