Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sabha Bypoll: Voting on 12 November, Murugan Seat

The Election Commission of India on 22 October announced a by-election to one Rajya Sabha seat from Madhya Pradesh, with voting on 12 November, to fill the vacancy created when L Murugan resigned from the House on 14 October. Notification will be issued on 26 October, and counting will follow the 9 AM to 4 PM poll the same evening, according to the schedule reported by ANI.

Nominations Open 26 October

Candidates can file papers from the day of notification until 2 November. Scrutiny is on 3 November and the last date to withdraw is 5 November. If only one candidate remains in the field, the returning officer can declare that person elected without a vote, as happened in the 2024 bypoll for the same seat. Voting, if needed, is by MLAs of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly.

Why the Seat Fell Vacant

Murugan quit as Minister of State on 13 October and sought to give up his Rajya Sabha membership. He said he wanted to work full-time to strengthen the BJP in Tamil Nadu ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, The News Minute reported. He was first elected to the Rajya Sabha in September 2021 and was re-elected from Madhya Pradesh in April 2024. His term was due to end on 2 April 2030, and the person elected in the bypoll will serve the rest of it.

Process to Finish Before 16 November

The Commission has said the whole exercise is to be completed before 16 November. It has not named any candidate, and the reports do not say which party will field one. Parties have until 2 November to file nominations.

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Source: Based on reporting by ANI, The News Mill and The News Minute.

Image: Wikimedia Commons.