In a significant political development in Madhya Pradesh, Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Hardeep Singh Puri is positioned to secure an unopposed victory in the upcoming Rajya Sabha by-election. This situation arose after the election authorities conducted a thorough scrutiny of the nomination papers and subsequently rejected the applications of two other contenders. Among those whose nominations were dismissed is Rajkumar Lohani, a candidate who had received support from the Congress party. With these rejections, the Union Minister remains the only valid candidate left in the fray for the single vacant seat from the state.
Scrutiny of Nominations and Candidate Status
The election process for the Rajya Sabha by-poll reached a critical stage during the verification of nomination documents. The Returning Officer, after evaluating the submissions, decided to disqualify the papers of two independent candidates. These individuals were identified as Kante Sayanna and Rajkumar Lohani. The rejection of Lohani is particularly notable as he was the candidate backed by the primary opposition, the Congress. According to official reports, the scrutiny revealed that the documents provided by these independent candidates did not meet the necessary legal requirements. Consequently, Hardeep Singh Puri has emerged as the sole contender for the position. While his victory is now a mathematical certainty, the formal declaration of his election will only take place after the deadline for the withdrawal of nominations expires on November 5.
Objections and the Returning Officer’s Ruling
The nomination process was not without its share of controversy and legal challenges. Leaders from the Congress party, including Hemant Katare and Atif Akeel, along with the independent candidates, had raised formal objections against the nomination of Hardeep Singh Puri. They alleged that the affidavit submitted by the Union Minister in Form:26 was incomplete and legally invalid. These leaders argued that such discrepancies should lead to the immediate cancellation of his candidacy. However, Returning Officer Umesh Sharma conducted a detailed review of these claims. In his final order, Sharma stated that the objections did not hold merit as Puri had not violated any provisions of the Representation of the People Act. The officer concluded that there were no flaws in the Union Minister’s paperwork, thereby upholding his nomination and dismissing the challenges posed by the opposition.
Context of the Vacancy and Political Dynamics
The necessity for this by-election arose following the resignation of Union Minister L. Murugan from his Rajya Sabha seat. Hardeep Singh Puri, who is currently serving as a Rajya Sabha member from Uttar Pradesh, saw his existing term nearing its end on November 25. The decision to field him from Madhya Pradesh aligns with the party’s strategy to ensure his continued presence in the upper house of Parliament. Given that the Bharatiya Janata Party holds a majority in the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly, the path for their candidate was expected to be smooth. Puri had officially filed his nomination on Saturday, October 31, in a high profile event attended by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and state BJP president Hemant Khandelwal, along with other prominent party officials.
Hardeep Singh Puri’s Professional Background
Hardeep Singh Puri brings a wealth of administrative and international experience to his political role. Before his entry into the political arena, he had a distinguished career in the Indian Foreign Service that lasted for approximately 39 years. A member of the 1974 batch of the IFS, he served in various critical capacities across the globe. One of the highlights of his diplomatic career was his tenure as India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. After retiring from the foreign service in February 2013, he decided to transition into public service through politics. He officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on January 2, 2014. Following the formation of the government at the Center in 2014, he was inducted into the Union Cabinet, where he has since managed several key portfolios.
Reaction of the Opposition and Next Steps
The rejection of the opposition supported candidate has sparked a sharp reaction from the Congress party. Leaders Hemant Katare and Atif Akeel issued statements describing the acceptance of Puri’s nomination despite their objections as an attack on the democratic values of the country. They expressed their intention to challenge the Returning Officer’s decision in a court of law, claiming that the alleged flaws in the documents were too significant to be ignored. Despite these planned legal moves, the electoral process continues according to the scheduled timeline. Once the withdrawal period concludes on November 5, the election office will issue the certificate of election to Hardeep Singh Puri. This unopposed win reinforces the BJP’s dominance in the state’s legislative affairs and secures another term for the Union Minister in the Rajya Sabha.
Source / स्रोत: India TV
