Mr Puri was sworn in as a Union minister in September
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday announced Housing and Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri as its candidate for a Rajya Sabha by-poll in Uttar Pradesh.
The seat fell vacant following the resignation of Mr Manohar Parrikar, who quit after he became Goa chief minister.
Mr Puri was sworn in as a Union minister in September.
He is not a member of Parliament and will have to elected within six months of taking oath.
His election is all but certain due to the BJP's massive strength in the state assembly.