Ravneet Singh Bittu, the Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries, has officially resigned from the Union Council of Ministers. The move, effective immediately following President Droupadi Murmu's acceptance, signals Bittu's strategic shift to focus on state politics in Punjab ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
Transition to State Politics
Bittu's departure from the central government comes after the expiration of his Rajya Sabha tenure on June 21, 2026. Representing the Upper House from August 2024, the 50-year-old leader expressed his desire to transition out of Parliament after nearly two decades in Delhi. "It has been 17 years in Delhi... Now I feel like coming to Vidhan Sabha and work for Punjab," Bittu stated, emphasizing his intent to engage in ground-level politics.
In a public statement on X, Bittu conveyed his gratitude to President Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the opportunity to serve the nation. He reaffirmed his commitment to "service, nationalism, and the vision of a Viksit Bharat," pledging renewed dedication to public service, particularly for the people of Punjab.
A Political Journey
Grandson of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, Bittu built a significant political career. He served three consecutive terms in the Lok Sabha with the Congress party, winning from Anandpur Sahib in 2009 and Ludhiana in 2014 and 2019. He also led the Congress party in the Lok Sabha in 2021 before making a high-profile switch to the BJP in March 2024, prior to the general elections.
Despite contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Ludhiana on a BJP ticket, Bittu lost to Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring. However, the BJP leadership inducted him into the Union Council of Ministers in June 2024 and subsequently nominated him to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan.
Implications for Punjab Elections
Bittu's return to state politics is pivotal for the BJP, especially as the party signals its intention to contest the Punjab Assembly elections independently, without an alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal. His prominent stature and experience position him as a key figure in the BJP's outreach efforts across Punjab.
He articulated the party's readiness to campaign aggressively, stating, "Our entire leadership is present here today and fully ready to serve Punjab. Assign us the task, we will go to villages, street to street for the betterment of the state and will knock on the door of every house. Our real aim is to connect with the people at the ground level by becoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji's soldiers."