Row over Nangal Congress office in BJP minister Ravneet Bittu's name; BBMB set to issue notice

A political storm has erupted in Nangal after it came to light that the Congress office in the town continues to be registered in the name of Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu, even though he had left the Congress to join the BJP and is now part of the NDA government.

The office at house number 48-I in the BBMB colony of Nangal was allotted in Bittu’s name when he was the Congress MP from Anandpur Sahib between 2009 and 2014. Though Bittu later shifted, to contest from Ludhiana and eventually switched sides to the BJP, the Nangal Congress office has remained under his name for more than a decade.

The revelation has triggered sharp political murmurs in the region. Many have questioned how the Congress can continue operating from an office officially registered in the name of a BJP minister, while others accuse rival groups of blowing the matter out of proportion.

Sources said the matter had now reached the attention of the BBMB authorities, who had begun examining the records. According to officials, a notice is likely to be issued to Bittu soon, asking whether he intends to continue holding the BBMB accommodation in his name or vacate it.

Executive Engineer (Township), BBMB, Nangal, Surinder Dhiman confirmed the allotment details. “Yes, the property at 48-I is in the name of Ravneet Singh Bittu,” he acknowledged.

Meanwhile, former Punjab Assembly Speaker KP Rana, whose team has been managing the Congress office, downplayed the controversy. When contacted by The Tribune, Rana clarified that while the allotment remained in Bittu’s name, the electricity meter was in his own name, and bills were being paid regularly. “Some vested interests are trying to rake up a non-issue. The office has been functioning as a hub of Congress activity for years, and nothing irregular has been done,” Rana asserted.

Attempts to reach Bittu for clarification proved futile. Despite repeated calls and messages on WhatsApp, the minister remained unavailable for comment.

The office at 48-I has long been an epicentre of Congress activity in the region, hosting strategy meetings, party gatherings, and public outreach programmes. Its continued association with Bittu’s name, however, has now provided political opponents with fresh ammunition, creating embarrassment for the Congress at a time when it is already struggling to consolidate its position in Punjab.

With the BBMB likely to issue a formal notice soon, the controversy over the ownership and usage of the Nangal Congress office appears set to intensify further in the coming days.