{
  "id": 18054341,
  "title": "Hardeep Singh Puri Set To Win Rajya Sabha Bypoll Unopposed As Congress Objections Rejected, Two Independents Disqualified In Bhopal",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/04/hardeep-singh-puri-set-to-win-rajya-sabha-bypoll-unopposed-as",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-04T01:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/hardeep-singh-puri-set-to-win-rajya-sabha-bypoll-unopposed-as-congress-objections-rejected-two-independents-disqualified-in-bhopal"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh: With all objections raised by the Congress party against BJP's Rajya Sabha candidate Hardeep Singh Puri rejected during the scrutiny of his nomination papers, the Returning Officer confirmed Puri's nomination on Tuesday. Two other Independent candidates, Rajkumar Lohani and Kante Sayanna, saw their nomination papers rejected due to various deficiencies. Lohani's nomination was specifically rejected for failing to submit Form 26 in physical form, despite claiming he had submitted it via email. Additionally, Lohani was not allowed additional time to provide the required documentation. Union Minister Puri is now certain to win the bypoll unopposed, as the deadline for candidates to withdraw their nominations passed on November 5. The Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sabha seat became vacant after L Murugan's resignation on October 13. Congress leaders Hemant Katare and Atif Aqueel supported Lohani, raising over 25 objections to Puri's nomination due to alleged incomplete Form 26. Congress intends to take the matter to the High Court, citing Puri's failure to mention his wife's name, declare his assets, and ensure proper certification of Form 26.",
  "summary": "Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Amid a volley of objections raised by Congress against the nomination papers of BJP's Rajya Sabha candidate Hardeep Singh Puri during scrutiny, the Returning Officer accepted Puri's nomination after rejecting all the objections on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the nomination papers of two Independent candidates, including Congress-backed candidate Rajkumar Lohani, were rejected due…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "Hardeep Singh Puri set to be elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha as rivals' nominations rejected",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/hardeep-singh-puri-set-to-be-elected-unopposed-to-rajya-sabha-as",
        "published": "2026-11-03T14:59:47.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NDTV",
        "title": "Union Minister Hardeep Puri Set To Win Rajya Sabha Bypoll As Nominations Of 2 Others Rejected",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/union-minister-hardeep-puri-set-to-win-rajya-sabha-bypoll-as",
        "published": "2026-11-03T17:05:41.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}