Bhopal, Oct 26 (PTI) The BJP may field a leader from outside Madhya Pradesh for the November 12 by-election to a vacant Rajya Sabha seat, with the party’s state core committee on Monday discussing possible candidates and agreeing to send a panel of names to the central leadership, according to sources.
The vacancy was created following the resignation of Union minister L Murugan.
Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Andhra Pradesh in-charge Arvind Singh Bhadauria, among others, were not present in person, sources said.
Bhadauria joined the meeting for a few minutes and assured that he will abide by the decision of MP Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, state BJP chief Hemant Khandelwal, and the organisation secretary.
BJP co-in-charge for Andhra Pradesh and former Tamil Nadu BJP MLA Vanathi Srinivasan was among the probables, according to party insiders.
Murugan, hailing from Tamil Nadu, was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh in April 2024. His term was due to end in April 2030.
Nominations for the bypoll opened on Monday.
The electoral arithmetic will depend on the votes of 229 MLAs, as Congress legislator Mukesh Malhotra will not be able to participate in the election, following a court ruling.
The state Assembly has 230 seats.
Eyes are set on Bina MLA Nirmala Sapre, who maintains that she belongs to the Congress but has also been seen attending BJP events.
Her voting position remains uncertain amid a pending anti-defection matter, making it difficult to assess the effective strength of the two parties.
Madhya Pradesh has 11 Rajya Sabha seats. Before Murugan’s resignation, the BJP held seven and the Congress three, while the remaining seat is now vacant. PTI LAL NSK
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