Union Minister George Kurian Resigns, President Accepts

Union Minister of State George Kurian resigned from the Council of Ministers on Tuesday, June 23, following the completion of his six-year term in the Rajya Sabha. President Droupadi Murmu accepted his resignation with immediate effect on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to an official statement from Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Kurian, who served as Minister of State for Minority Affairs and for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, was not renominated by the Bharatiya Janata Party for the recent Rajya Sabha elections. His term in the Upper House concluded on June 21. Another minister, Ravneet Singh Bittu, also saw his Rajya Sabha term end and was not renominated by the party.

The 65-year-old veteran BJP leader from Kerala had been a member of the party since its formation in 1980 and was sworn into the third Narendra Modi-led government in June 2024. His appointment was seen as part of the party's outreach to minority communities and efforts to strengthen its presence in southern India. Kurian is widely regarded as the only Christian representative in the Union ministry.

His departure has triggered speculation about a potential Cabinet reshuffle and future...