Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs George Kurian has resigned from the Union Council of Ministers after the completion of his Rajya Sabha tenure, with President Droupadi Murmu accepting his resignation with immediate effect.
The development follows the Bharatiya Janata Party’s decision not to renominate Kurian in the recently concluded Rajya Sabha elections, effectively bringing his parliamentary term to an end on June 21.
President Accepts Resignation
According to an official communication issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday, President Droupadi Murmu accepted Kurian’s resignation based on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“The President of India, as advised by the Prime Minister, has accepted the resignation of George Kurian from the Union Council of Ministers with immediate effect,” the official statement said.
Kurian was serving as the Minister of State for Minority Affairs and also held the additional charge of Minister of State in the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
BJP Did Not Renominate Kurian
Kurian’s exit from the Union Cabinet comes after the BJP chose not to field him again for the Rajya Sabha elections held on June 18.
His six-year tenure in the Upper House concluded on June 21, leaving him without a parliamentary seat and paving the way for his resignation from the ministry.
The BJP also declined to renominate another Union minister, Ravneet Singh Bittu, whose Rajya Sabha term was ending around the same time.
One Of The Few Christian Faces In The Union Government
George Kurian was considered one of the prominent Christian leaders in the BJP and was reportedly the only minister from the Christian community in the Union government at the time of his resignation.
His inclusion in the Council of Ministers was viewed as part of the BJP’s efforts to strengthen its outreach among minority communities, particularly Christians, in southern states such as Kerala.
Political Significance
Kurian’s departure has sparked discussions about the BJP’s representation of minority communities in the Union Cabinet. While the party has not officially commented on the reasons behind not renominating him, the move comes ahead of several key political contests and organisational changes within the party.
With his resignation now accepted, the Union Council of Ministers will undergo a minor reshuffle in responsibilities until any further appointments are announced by the government.
George Kurian’s tenure as Minister of State was marked by his involvement in minority welfare initiatives as well as policy matters related to fisheries, animal husbandry and dairy development. His resignation closes a chapter in the current Union government’s ministerial lineup following the end of his parliamentary term.