Ahead of Punjab Assembly elections next year, former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday announced a new party 'Punjab Lok Congress' after formally resigning from the Congress party.

"I have today sent my resignation to @INCIndia President Ms Sonia Gandhi ji, listing my reasons for the resignation. 'Punjab Lok Congress' is the name of the new party. The registration is pending approval with the @ECISVEEP. The party symbol will be approved later," Amarinder Singh tweeted.

In September, Singh resigned as the chief minister and announced that he will be quitting the Congress party after months of friction with Congress state chief Navjot Singh Sidhu.

He had resigned ahead of Congress legislature party meeting which was called amid unending factional battles in the ruling Congress in the state. Singh was replaced by Charanjit Singh Channi as the chief minister of the state.