George Kurian Resigns as Union Minister After Rajya Sabha Term Ends; President Murmu Accepts Resignation

By Political Bureau, New Delhi Chronicle

New Delhi | June 23, 2026

NEW DELHI: In a significant political development, veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader George Kurian on Tuesday resigned from the Union Council of Ministers. The move follows the expiration of his Rajya Sabha tenure and the party’s decision not to renominate him to the Upper House of Parliament.

A Rashtrapati Bhavan communique confirmed that President Droupadi Murmu has accepted his resignation with immediate effect, acting on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi under clause (2) of Article 75 of the Constitution.

End of a Crucial Ministerial Tenure

Kurian, 65, was serving as the Union Minister of State (MoS) for Minority Affairs, as well as the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying. His departure marks a notable shift in the Union cabinet’s composition, where he was a prominent face representing the Christian community from Kerala.

 “The President of India, as advised by the Prime Minister, has accepted the resignation of Shri George Kurian from the Union Council of Ministers, with immediate effect, under clause (2) of Article 75 of the Constitution.”

Political Context and Future Outlook

Hailing from Kottayam, Kerala, Kurian has been a steadfast organizational pillar for the BJP since its inception in 1980. His induction into the Union Cabinet in 2024 was widely viewed as a strategic outreach by the BJP leadership to strengthen its footprint among the Christian community in Kerala.

With his Rajya Sabha term concluding on June 21, the party top brass opted for organizational realignment, nominating alternative faces to the Upper House. Highly placed sources within the BJP indicate that Kurian will now be tasked with spearheading vital organizational activities and strengthening the party’s grassroots structure in Kerala ahead of upcoming local body and state elections.

A cabinet reshuffle or realignment to reallocate his portfolios is expected to be announced shortly by the Prime Minister’s Office.