Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs L. Murugan announced his resignation from the Union Council of Ministers and his membership of the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, saying he wanted to return to "grassroots" work and dedicate himself full-time to strengthening the BJP in Tamil Nadu ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
Murugan wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting to be relieved of his duties. Announcing the decision in a post on X, he said it had been "the greatest honour of my life to serve Bharat Mata and Tamil Nadu" under the Prime Minister's leadership, adding: "From the son of daily wage labourers to serving in the Union Council of Ministers ... has been the greatest privilege of my life. Now, I wish to return to the grassroots, stand with our karyakartas and dedicate myself full-time to strengthening the BJP in Tamil Nadu ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections."
A long road from Tamil Nadu's party unit to Delhi
Murugan became the BJP's Tamil Nadu president in 2020 and was inducted into the Union Cabinet in July 2021 during a Modi government reshuffle. He was later elected to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh, and his parliamentary term was scheduled to run until 2030.
Why this matters now
His exit comes amid talk of a wider Union Cabinet reshuffle. Petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri was not renominated to the Rajya Sabha, and two ministers of state — George Kurian and Ravneet Singh Bittu — resigned from the Cabinet in June and July respectively.
Speaking to ANI, Murugan said he had asked the Prime Minister to "send me to the state to strengthen the party", adding that the Prime Minister's recent visit to Tamil Nadu had shown him the people's enthusiasm and affection.
Sources: NDTV — "Wish To Return To Grassroots": L Murugan Resigns As Union Minister | Times Now — Union MoS L Murugan Resigns From Union Cabinet | The Wire — BJP MP L. Murugan Resigns as Union Minister
Murugan wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting to be relieved of his duties. Announcing the decision in a post on X, he said it had been "the greatest honour of my life to serve Bharat Mata and Tamil Nadu" under the Prime Minister's leadership, adding: "From the son of daily wage labourers to serving in the Union Council of Ministers ... has been the greatest privilege of my life. Now, I wish to return to the grassroots, stand with our karyakartas and dedicate myself full-time to strengthening the BJP in Tamil Nadu ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections."
A long road from Tamil Nadu's party unit to Delhi
Murugan became the BJP's Tamil Nadu president in 2020 and was inducted into the Union Cabinet in July 2021 during a Modi government reshuffle. He was later elected to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh, and his parliamentary term was scheduled to run until 2030.
Why this matters now
His exit comes amid talk of a wider Union Cabinet reshuffle. Petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri was not renominated to the Rajya Sabha, and two ministers of state — George Kurian and Ravneet Singh Bittu — resigned from the Cabinet in June and July respectively.
Speaking to ANI, Murugan said he had asked the Prime Minister to "send me to the state to strengthen the party", adding that the Prime Minister's recent visit to Tamil Nadu had shown him the people's enthusiasm and affection.
Sources: NDTV — "Wish To Return To Grassroots": L Murugan Resigns As Union Minister | Times Now — Union MoS L Murugan Resigns From Union Cabinet | The Wire — BJP MP L. Murugan Resigns as Union Minister
