Hardeep Singh Puri was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh after other candidates failed to qualify. The nominations of Rajkumar Lohani and Kante Sayanna were rejected for not meeting necessary requirements. Puri’s election follows the resignation of Union minister of state L Murugan in mid-October. Hemant Khandelwal, among other officials, was present when Puri collected his election certificate.