The resignation of George Kurian has sparked political discussion in Kerala, where he has long been regarded as one of the BJP’s most prominent Christian leaders. His exit comes amid shifting political equations following recent developments in the state.

George Kurian Steps Down from Union Council of Ministers

Union Minister of State George Kurian resigned from the Union Council of Ministers on Tuesday, marking the end of his tenure in the Narendra Modi-led government. President Droupadi Murmu accepted his resignation on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The government has not officially disclosed the reason behind Kurian’s resignation. However, the development comes just days after the completion of his six-year Rajya Sabha term on June 21. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had chosen not to renominate him during the latest Rajya Sabha elections, effectively ending his tenure in Parliament.

Kurian, 65, served as Minister of State in the Ministry of Minority Affairs and the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. He was inducted into the Modi 3.0 government in June 2024 and represented Madhya Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha from August 2024 until June 2026.

A Prominent BJP Face in Kerala

A lawyer by profession, George Kurian has been associated with the BJP since the party’s formation in 1980. Over the decades, he emerged as one of the party’s most influential leaders in Kerala and held several key organizational positions, including state general secretary and vice-president of the BJP’s Kerala unit.

Kurian also served as national secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) and was a member of the BJP national executive. Within party circles, he earned recognition as an effective spokesperson and frequently represented the BJP in television debates.

One of his notable roles was translating speeches of Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah into Malayalam during their visits to Kerala, helping the party strengthen its outreach among local audiences.

Political Significance

Kurian belongs to the Syro-Malabar Catholic community, one of Kerala’s largest Christian denominations. His appointment as a Union Minister in 2024 was widely viewed as part of the BJP’s broader strategy to expand its support among Christian voters in the state.

Political observers believe his exclusion from the Rajya Sabha may be linked to the BJP’s evolving electoral strategy in Kerala following recent political developments. However, neither the BJP nor the central government has issued any official statement explaining the decision.

According to party sources, Kurian’s departure is unlikely to affect the BJP’s organizational presence in Kerala immediately, but it may influence discussions around the party’s future Christian outreach strategy in the state.