Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri is set to enter the Rajya Sabha unopposed from Madhya Pradesh after the nomination papers of two independent candidates were rejected during scrutiny on Tuesday.

The two candidates whose nominations were rejected were Kante Sayanna and Rajkumar Lohani, the latter being backed by the Congress. Their rejection leaves Puri as the only candidate in the contest for the vacant Rajya Sabha seat.

According to an official, the result will be announced on November 5, which is also the last date for withdrawal of nominations.

The Returning Officer, Umesh Sharma, examined the nomination papers on the last day of scrutiny and rejected the two independent candidates’ applications.

Objections raised against Hardeep Puri’s nomination

The nomination papers submitted by Puri also faced objections from the two independent candidates and Congress leader Hemant Katare.

They questioned the validity and completeness of Puri’s affidavit filed in Form 26, raising concerns over whether the mandatory details had been properly furnished.

However, after examining the objections, Returning Officer Umesh Sharma concluded that Puri had not violated any requirements under the Representation of the People Act.

Sharma stated in his order that no defect had been found in Puri’s nomination papers that could justify their rejection.

Following the decision, Katare and Congress MLA Atif Aqeel announced that they would approach the court against the order.

Calling the decision an attack on Indian democracy, the Congress leaders said in a statement that Puri’s nomination should have been rejected despite what they described as significant errors.

Why the Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sabha seat fell vacant

The by-election was necessitated by the resignation of Union Minister L Murugan, which left a Rajya Sabha seat vacant in Madhya Pradesh.

With the nomination papers of both independent candidates rejected and Puri’s nomination cleared, the Union minister is set to be elected unopposed.

The final announcement is expected on November 5, the last day for withdrawal of nominations.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday announced that eligible families covered under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) will receive one free LPG cylinder each on Diwali and Holi.

The announcement came as the Chief Minister participated in a programme organised for distributing LPG refill subsidies to more than 1.89 crore beneficiaries across the state.

The Uttar Pradesh government has allocated Rs 1,500 crore for providing subsidies on LPG cylinder refills to eligible families under the scheme.

Addressing the gathering, Adityanath explained the cost of a domestic LPG cylinder and the subsidy provided by the Centre.

“The price of one domestic gas cylinder is Rs 983.45, and out of this, the Government of India provides a subsidy of Rs 335. You have to spend Rs 648.55 from your own pocket,” he said.

The Chief Minister said the state government had decided to provide one cylinder to poor families covered under the Ujjwala scheme on Diwali and Holi.

“With the money you save, you can buy Diwali sweets and lamps,” he said.

Yogi Adityanath targets previous Congress government

During his address, Adityanath also compared the availability of LPG connections under the present government with the situation during the Congress government’s tenure.

He said people previously faced several difficulties in obtaining a single gas connection, while the present government had provided free gas connections to poor families.

The Chief Minister described the initiative as an example of good governance.

Yogi Adityanath on Ayodhya’s Deepotsav

Earlier on Tuesday, Adityanath described Ayodhya’s Deepotsav, scheduled for November 7, as a symbol of social unity.

In a post on X, he said the festival brought together people from different sections of society through shared faith and cultural participation.

He also referred to the Deepotsav tradition initiated by the state government in 2017, saying it had transformed Ayodhya’s cultural heritage into a celebration involving people from different walks of life.

The Chief Minister is scheduled to visit Ayodhya to review preparations for the event.

US President Donald Trump has reacted to the Republican Party’s setbacks in the 2026 US midterm elections, claiming that the party would have secured a landslide victory if he had been on the ballot.

Trump made the remark as Democrats registered significant gains in congressional contests, putting Republican control of Congress under pressure.

The November 3 midterm elections were widely seen as an important test of Trump’s presidency, with all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 Senate seats up for election.

According to Trump’s assessment, his presence on the ballot would have changed the outcome for Republicans.

The President’s remarks came after Democrats made significant advances in several closely watched races, challenging Republican control of both chambers of Congress.

Democrats make gains in key congressional races

The election results indicated a strong performance by Democrats in several important contests.

In the Senate, Democrats flipped multiple Republican-held seats, including victories in Texas, South Carolina and Ohio. In the House of Representatives, Democratic candidates also defeated several Republican incumbents, bringing the party closer to securing a majority.

The developments raised the possibility of Democrats taking control of both chambers, although some contests were still being counted.

A change in congressional control would have significant implications for Trump’s remaining presidential term, potentially making it more difficult for his administration to advance its legislative agenda.

Why the 2026 US midterm elections matter

The US midterm elections take place halfway through a president’s four-year term. Unlike presidential elections, voters elect members of Congress, including representatives and a portion of the Senate.

The elections are particularly important because the party controlling Congress has considerable influence over legislation, government spending and oversight of the administration.

For Trump, the 2026 elections were a major political test as Republicans sought to maintain their congressional majorities.

Democratic gains could change the political balance in Washington during the final two years of his presidency.