In a significant political development, Ravneet Singh Bittu, formerly of the Congress party, has been appointed as a Minister of State in the Modi government. On Sunday, Bittu announced his new role, highlighting his dedication to acting as a bridge between Punjab and the central government.
Bittu, the grandson of the late Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, expressed his surprise at the appointment, particularly after his defeat in the Ludhiana elections. “It was an unexpected call which I received this morning, following which I rushed to the Prime Minister’s residence. I was informed that I would be part of the Modi 3.0 cabinet there,” Bittu stated.
Bittu’s nomination underscores Prime Minister Modi’s commitment to Punjab, despite the BJP’s loss of all 13 seats in the state. “The BJP having lost all 13 seats in the state and still getting a Cabinet berth is Modi’s gift to Punjab,” he remarked.
At 48, Bittu aims to address key issues, especially those affecting farmers. He plans to collaborate with farm leaders to ensure their legitimate demands are conveyed to and addressed by Prime Minister Modi. Bittu believes his role will significantly benefit Punjab under the new Modi administration.
“I will raise all the demands and issues of Punjab before the PM and will get them resolved at the earliest,” Bittu promised. His agenda includes prioritizing infrastructure development, agriculture, health, education, industry, and improving the state’s law and order situation.
Bittu, who has previously won three consecutive Lok Sabha elections since 2014, lost the recent parliamentary election in Ludhiana to Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring. Known as ‘Rahul’s soldier’ during his time with Congress, Bittu has now rebranded himself as ‘Modi’s man’.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah had assured Ludhiana residents of making Bittu a significant figure if re-elected. Although Ludhiana did not send him back to the Lok Sabha, the BJP has honored the promise, positioning him as a Minister of State in the government.