George Kurian Resigns as Union Minister After Rajya Sabha Term Ends
Brief By Newsbrief / 11:29 AM on 23 Jun 2026
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader George Kurian has resigned from his post as Minister of State (MoS) for Minority Affairs and Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. Rashtrapati Bhavan confirmed that President Droupadi Murmu accepted his resignation with immediate effect on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Kurian's Rajya Sabha term ended on June 21, making it necessary for him to step down from the Union Council of Ministers under constitutional provisions. He had been serving as a Minister of State in Prime Minister Modi's third NDA government since August 2024. Kurian was one of the prominent Christian faces in the Union government, and his resignation has sparked political discussions.
The 65-year-old BJP leader has been associated with the party since its formation in 1980. Over the years, he has held several key positions in both the party organization and the government. Before becoming a Union Minister, Kurian served as the Vice-Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities and also worked as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to former Minister of State for Railways O. Rajagopal. He took oath as Union Minister of State on June 9, 2024, and assumed charge of the Ministries of Minority Affairs and Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying on June 11, 2024. During his tenure, he played a role in implementing several welfare initiatives for minority communities.
Born on September 20, 1960, in Nambiyakullam, Ettumanoor Municipality of Kerala's Kottayam district, George Kurian completed his schooling in his hometown before earning undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Law. According to political sources, he was not renominated to the Rajya Sabha, reportedly due to the BJP's electoral performance in Kerala. As a result, his parliamentary term ended, leading to the conclusion of his ministerial tenure as well. Despite stepping down, party insiders believe his long organizational experience could see him entrusted with another important responsibility in the future. His resignation is being viewed as a significant development in the BJP's political and organizational strategy.