Chandigarh: The political rivalry between Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu intensified on Wednesday, with Mann claiming that the BJP leadership could soon ask Bittu to prove his electoral strength in Punjab.
Speaking to mediapersons, Mann alleged that Bittu may not only lose his ministerial position in the future but could also face uncertainty over his Rajya Sabha membership. He claimed that the BJP leadership wanted Bittu to contest and win an Assembly election to establish his political relevance in the state.
“His statements suggest that he is preparing for electoral politics in Punjab. The party leadership wants him to prove his strength on the ground,” Mann said.
The remarks mark another chapter in the growing political confrontation between the two leaders, who were once known to share a close personal relationship. Before Mann became Chief Minister in 2022, both leaders were considered friends and were often seen maintaining cordial ties despite belonging to different political camps.
However, as Punjab’s political landscape begins to shift towards the next Assembly elections, their relationship has increasingly turned adversarial, with both sides frequently exchanging sharp political attacks.
The public fallout became more visible during the recent urban local body elections when Bittu campaigned in areas considered strongholds of the Chief Minister. The visit triggered a political controversy and led to a fresh round of verbal exchanges between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and the BJP.
Political observers view the escalating confrontation as an indication of the increasingly aggressive positioning by both parties ahead of the next electoral battle in Punjab.
