Union Minister George Kurian has resigned from the Council of Ministers, bringing an end to his tenure in the Narendra Modi-led government. President Droupadi Murmu has accepted his resignation with immediate effect, following the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The resignation comes amid changes linked to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Rajya Sabha strategy and a possible reshuffle in the Union government. Kurian’s term as a Rajya Sabha member was nearing completion, and he was not included in the BJP’s list of candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, leading to speculation about his continuation as a minister.

George Kurian, a senior BJP leader from Kerala, has been associated with the party since its early years. A lawyer by profession, he has worked in the Supreme Court and has held several organisational responsibilities within the BJP before moving into a national-level government role. Kurian became a prominent BJP face from Kerala and was seen as an important leader for the party’s outreach among Christian communities. Before joining the Union government, he served as Vice-Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities and played an active role in party affairs.

He entered the Union Council of Ministers in June 2024 after taking oath as Minister of State. He was given charge of the Ministry of Minority Affairs and the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. During his tenure, he focused on government schemes related to minority welfare, fisheries, livestock development and rural sectors.

Kurian was later elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh in August 2024, strengthening his presence in national politics. However, after the BJP announced its latest Rajya Sabha candidates without including his name, questions grew over his future role in the government. The resignation is being viewed as part of the normal political process where ministerial positions are often adjusted based on parliamentary representation, organisational needs and upcoming political priorities. The BJP has not indicated any controversy behind Kurian’s exit.

George Kurian’s political journey reflects the BJP’s effort to expand its footprint in Kerala, where the party has traditionally faced strong competition from other political formations. Despite his short ministerial tenure, Kurian remained an important figure in the party’s national leadership structure. As the government moves ahead, attention will now turn to possible changes in the Union Cabinet and whether new faces will be brought in to fill the vacancies created by recent political developments.