GUWAHATI: BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu has resigned as Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries. He is likely to contest the Punjab Assembly elections scheduled next year, according to reports.
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Bittu's resignation comes after his tenure as a Rajya Sabha member ended in June. He has been involved in the BJP's preparations for the Assembly polls in Punjab, where the party is seeking to improve its electoral performance.
Announcing his decision on X, Bittu thanked President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the opportunity to serve in the Union government.
"I express my heartfelt gratitude to Hon'ble President Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji and Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji for giving me the opportunity to serve the nation as Minister of State in the Government of India," he wrote.
"It has been an honour to serve the people of India, especially my beloved Punjab. I remain committed to the ideals of service, nationalism, and the vision of a Viksit Bharat under the leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji. My journey of public service continues with renewed dedication," he added.
The grandson of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, Bittu joined the BJP in 2024 after leaving the Congress. He contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Punjab on a BJP ticket but lost to Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring by 20,942 votes.
Following the Lok Sabha elections, Bittu was nominated to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan to complete the remainder of the term vacated by Congress leader K.C. Venugopal.
Bittu has also contested the 2017 Punjab Assembly elections on a Congress ticket. He lost the election to Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal and finished third behind AAP leader Bhagwant Mann.
The BJP won two seats in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, while the Aam Aadmi Party secured 92 seats in the 117-member Assembly. The party is now preparing for the next Assembly elections, scheduled for 2027.