Union Minister George Kurian Resigns Following Conclusion of Rajya Sabha Term

Constitutional Obligation Prompts Resignation

George Kurian, the Union Minister of State (MoS) for Minority Affairs, and Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, resigned from the Union Council of Ministers on June 23, 2026. The resignation was accepted by President Droupadi Murmu on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The move was mandated by Article 75(5) of the Constitution of India, which stipulates that a minister who is not a member of either House of Parliament for six consecutive months must vacate their office. Kurian’s tenure as a member of the Rajya Sabha concluded on June 21, 2026, and since he was not renominated for another term, he was constitutionally required to step down.

Political Background and Performance in Office

Kurian, a veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader from Kerala, was inducted into the Modi 3.0 cabinet in June 2024 to bolster the party's representation from the southern state. A lawyer by training, he has held numerous organizational roles within the party over three decades. During his two-year ministerial tenure, Kurian oversaw key developmental initiatives under the Ministry of Minority Affairs and coordinated policy support for fisheries and dairy cooperatives. His sudden departure leaves the ministries with vacant portfolios that will be temporarily absorbed by senior cabinet ministers until the next reshuffle.

Future Role in Kerala BJP Organisation

Following the formal acceptance of his resignation, BJP party sources indicated that Kurian will transition back to active party organization. He is slated to lead the party's strategic coordination and grass-roots mobilization campaigns in Kerala ahead of upcoming local body and state assembly elections. The national leadership praised his service in the cabinet, emphasizing that his experience will be critical in expanding the party's footprint in southern India.