A minister in the Modi government has resigned; President Murmu has accepted the resignation

New Delhi: Ravneet Singh Bittu, the Union Minister of State for Railways in the Modi government, has resigned from his ministerial post. There is speculation that he may contest the Punjab Assembly elections scheduled for next year. On the advice of the Prime Minister, President Droupadi Murmu has accepted Ravneet Singh's resignation from the Union Council of Ministers with immediate effect.

Ravneet Singh Bittu served as the Minister of State for Railways in the Modi government. The BJP did not renominate him to the Rajya Sabha, making it clear that he might step down from his ministerial role. Assembly elections are due in five states, including Punjab, in February-March next year; consequently, the party might field him in the assembly polls.

The political contest in Punjab primarily involves the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congress, BJP, and the Akali Dal. Bittu had switched from Congress to the BJP but lost the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Subsequently, the BJP sent him to the Rajya Sabha, a term that concluded just last month. Since then, there had been speculation that he could resign at any time.

Did Bittu Hint at This Last Month?

Bittu had indicated his intention to contest elections in Punjab early last month. He stated that after spending 17 years in Parliament, he now wished to work in his home state. He said, "I have been in Delhi (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) for 17 years. Now, I feel like entering the Assembly and working for Punjab."

Is Ravneet Singh Bittu Ready to Serve Punjab?

He stated that their entire leadership is present here and fully prepared to serve Punjab. "Give us the task; we will go to every village and every street, knocking on every door for the betterment of the state." He made this statement while addressing a gathering after Kewal Singh Dhillon assumed charge as the new Punjab BJP President. He added that their true objective is to connect with people at the grassroots level as soldiers of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Why did Ravneet Singh Bittu Join BJP before the Lok Sabha elections?

Ravneet Singh Bittu joined the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He is the grandson of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, who was assassinated in 1995. Bittu served as a Lok Sabha MP three times on a Congress ticket. He was first elected as an MP from Anandpur Sahib in 2009. Later, he was elected twice from Ludhiana, in 2014 and 2019. After joining the BJP, he contested the 2024 election from the Ludhiana seat but lost; he was defeated by Congress candidate Amrinder Singh Raja Warring. Subsequently, the BJP sent him to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan and appointed him as the Minister of State for Railways.