Bhopal Bureau
Summary: The Rajya Sabha by-election for one seat from Madhya Pradesh has taken a fresh turn on the last day of nominations. Bhopal businessman Rajkumar Lohani has filed his nomination as an independent candidate, and the Congress has announced its support for him. With this, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri will no longer be elected unopposed. Voting and counting for the seat will now take place on 12 November.
Nomination filed on the last day
The last date for filing nominations for the Rajya Sabha by-election was 2 November. On that final day, Rajkumar Lohani, a resident of the Ghoda Nakkas area of Bhopal, reached the Madhya Pradesh Assembly and submitted his nomination papers before the Returning Officer. Congress MLA Hemant Katare became his proposer. Congress MLAs Atif Aqeel, Abhijeet Shah and Surendra Singh Honey Baghel, along with Congress spokesperson Vivek Tripathi, were also present during the nomination. The presence of Congress legislators has made this nomination a talking point in political circles.
Until now, it was widely expected that BJP candidate Hardeep Singh Puri could be elected unopposed, since no other candidate had entered the fray before the last date. Lohani’s entry has changed that picture. With a Congress-backed independent in the race, the by-election has now become a contest, and political discussion around it has intensified.
Who is Rajkumar Lohani
Rajkumar Lohani belongs to the old city of Bhopal. He was born in Bhopal in 1959. He runs a mobile accessories shop in the old city and is described as being active as a social worker. He has studied up to the higher secondary level. Lohani has said that he has no direct connection with politics. According to him, he filed his nomination as part of the democratic process and wanted to be a part of it whatever the result may be.
The notable feature of Lohani’s nomination is that he is not a member of any party. He filed as an independent candidate and had sought support from the Congress. The Congress accepted his request and decided to back him. Deputy Leader of Opposition Hemant Katare said that Lohani had asked the party for cooperation, after which the party assured him of help.
Why the Congress backed him
The Congress has opposed the candidature of BJP nominee Hardeep Singh Puri. The party has alleged that questions arise over Puri’s candidature after his name figured in the controversy linked to the Epstein files. It is in the midst of this opposition that the Congress has fielded Lohani as an independent with its support. The Congress has also expressed apprehension that Lohani’s nomination papers could be rejected, citing an earlier case in support of its concern.
The Congress strategy is also being seen as an attempt to register its political presence rather than treating this by-election as a contest for just one seat. Despite the BJP’s clear majority in the Assembly, the Congress has tried to send a message, by creating a contest through an independent candidate, that it will not leave the electoral field empty. The presence of Congress MLAs during the nomination is also being viewed as part of this strategy.
The BJP side: Puri is the official candidate
On the other side, the BJP has made Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri its official candidate for this seat. Puri filed his nomination on 31 October in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and state BJP president Hemant Khandelwal, along with other party leaders. His candidature has the full backing of the party, and the presence of the Chief Minister and the state president at the time of filing was seen as a show of party unity.
As far as the numbers in the Assembly are concerned, the BJP has 164 MLAs in the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly, while the Congress has far fewer legislators. In a Rajya Sabha by-election, the elected members of the Assembly vote, which is why the BJP’s position is considered strong on the basis of numbers. Even so, the entry of a Congress-backed independent has made this by-election politically interesting.
How the seat fell vacant
The Rajya Sabha seat from Madhya Pradesh fell vacant after the resignation of Union Minister L. Murugan. Murugan was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh in April 2024, and his term was to run until April 2030. After his resignation, the seat became vacant, and a by-election is now being held for it. The winner of the by-election will remain a member for the remaining part of the term.
The process of a Rajya Sabha by-election is different from a general election. The public does not vote directly in it; instead, the elected members of the state Assembly exercise their franchise. This is why the numerical strength of parties in the Assembly has a direct bearing on the election. With the BJP holding a majority in Madhya Pradesh, its candidate’s victory is considered likely, but the result will be known only after the nomination process and voting formalities are complete.
Election schedule: the dates ahead
According to the election schedule, the last date for nominations was 2 November. Scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on 3 November. The scrutiny will decide whether Lohani’s nomination is valid. After that, candidates will have time until 5 November to withdraw their names. If Lohani’s papers are found valid and he does not withdraw by 5 November, polling will be held on 12 November and counting will take place the same day.
In the coming days, both camps will watch the scrutiny on 3 November closely. The Congress has already expressed apprehension about the rejection of the nomination papers, so the outcome of the scrutiny will decide the direction of this by-election. If the papers remain valid, polling will take place on 12 November, in which members of the Assembly will cast their votes, followed by counting and declaration of the result.
What happens next
The result of this by-election will not be limited to just one seat. For the Congress, this election is an opportunity to demonstrate its strategy and organisational activity, while for the BJP it is a chance to reaffirm its majority position. The entry of an independent candidate has increased electoral discussion, and in the coming days, both parties may step up their efforts to reach out to MLAs and mobilise support.
For now, all eyes are on the scrutiny of nomination papers on 3 November. After the scrutiny, it will become clear whether polling will be held on 12 November or some other situation will emerge. Until then, discussion about this by-election will continue in Bhopal’s political circles. The by-election for this seat is being seen as a significant development in Madhya Pradesh politics.
Disclaimer: This report has been prepared on the basis of available sources and verification. If any fact is found to be incorrect, a correction will be published.
