News Desk: The by-election to a Rajya Sabha seat from Madhya Pradesh, which fell vacant following the resignation of former Union minister L. Murugan, will be held on November 12, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Thursday.
The seat became vacant on October 14, a day after Murugan resigned from the Union Council of Ministers and gave up his Rajya Sabha membership. His parliamentary term was originally scheduled to end on April 2, 2030.
According to the Election Commission, the official notification for the by-election will be issued on October 26. The last date for filing nominations is November 2, while scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on November 3. Candidates will be allowed to withdraw their nominations until November 5.
Polling will be conducted between 9 am and 4 pm on November 12, and counting of votes will begin at 5 pm on the same day. The entire election process is scheduled to be completed before November 16.
Murugan, a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, had been a Rajya Sabha member since September 2021. He was re-elected to the Upper House from Madhya Pradesh in April 2024. Before joining the Union Cabinet in July 2021, he served as the BJP's Tamil Nadu unit president.
In his resignation letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Murugan explained that he wanted to return to grassroots politics and devote his full time to strengthening the BJP in Tamil Nadu ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
He also expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for giving him opportunities to serve the country despite his humble background. Murugan said he did not come from a political family and belonged to a financially disadvantaged household. His parents, who worked as daily wage labourers and cattle grazers, continue to live a simple life in Konur village, he noted.
Murugan credited Modi's leadership and the BJP's organisational culture for providing opportunities to grassroots party workers. During his political career, he served in several important roles, including the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, before becoming a Rajya Sabha member and a Union minister.
His resignation marks a significant political development for the BJP as it prepares to strengthen its organisation in Tamil Nadu. The upcoming by-election will determine who occupies the vacant Rajya Sabha seat for the remainder of the term.
With the election schedule now announced, political parties are expected to focus on candidate selection and preparations for the November 12 polling.
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