CHANDIGARH: The Deputy Chief Minister Punjab Sukhbir Singh Badal Tuesday resigned from the Council of Ministers and submitted his resignation to the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in the wake of bye election to three assembly constituencies in the state and consequently to enable him to contest the election from any one of these constituencies.

Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Chief Minister's Office said that the Chief Minister has received the resignation of  Sukhbir Singh Badal  as Deputy Chief Minister Punjab, and would soon forward it to the Punjab Governor, General (Retd.) Dr. S.F. Rodrigues,  for its acceptance.

It may be recalled that the Election Commission of India has already announced the poll schedule of Bye election of three assembly constituencies i.e. Jalalabad, Kahnuwan and Banur, which would go to polls on August 3, 2009.

Sukhbir Badal's term of six months in the office had to expire on July 20. He is expected to contest Jalalabad assembly seat and he may be reinducted into government. The speculations are that he may take over as Chief Minister relieving his father of responsibility.