Former Union minister RPN Singh resigns from Congress, set to join BJP

Former Union minister RPN Singh on Tuesday tendered his resignation to Congress president Sonia Gandhi from the party's primary membership ahead of Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. Singh, who was a member of Parliament from the Kushinagar constituency in the 15th Lok Sabha, shared his resignation letter on social media.

"I hereby tender my resignation from the primary membership of the Indian National Congress with immediate effect," the letter stated. "I thank you for providing me an opportunity to serve the nation, its people and the party."

The letter was followed by a confirmation that he will be starting a 'new chapter' in his political career.

"Today, when the entire nation is celebrating Republic Day, I am starting a new chapter in my political life. Jai Hind," Singh tweeted in Hindi.

Singh is likely to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which recently witnessed several backward caste leaders, including three ministers in the Uttar Pradesh government, switching to Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party.