Union Minister L Murugan Resigns From Cabinet and Rajya Sabha

Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, L Murugan, has stepped down from his ministerial post and resigned from his Rajya Sabha membership.

The Resignation

In his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, Murugan asked to be relieved of his duties so he can dedicate his time full-time to building up the Bharatiya Janata Party in Tamil Nadu. His Rajya Sabha term was supposed to end in 2030, and he was elected to the Upper House from Madhya Pradesh. Murugan stated that he wants to return to the grassroots and work alongside party workers ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, emphasizing the motto 'Nation First. Party Next. Self Last.' This resignation follows earlier cabinet exits by union ministers George Kurian in June and Ravneet Singh Bittu in July, fueling talk that a cabinet reshuffle may happen soon.

Background and Roots

Murugan is a former president of the BJP's Tamil Nadu unit, having taken over that role in 2020 before K Annamalai succeeded him. He entered the Union Cabinet in July 2021 during a reshuffle. He comes from the Arunthathiyar community and was born to Telugu-speaking parents in Namakkal, Tamil Nadu. In his letter, he reflected on his humble beginnings, noting that his parents worked as daily wage labourers and cattle grazers in Konur village. He also has past experience in student politics with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. Although he lost the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to DMK candidate A Raja in the Nilgiris constituency, he was still kept in the National Democratic Alliance council of ministers.

Context

Cabinet ministers in India routinely step down from party or parliamentary roles to focus on organizational work in specific states when gearing up for major upcoming elections. Tamil Nadu remains a key focus area for national parties looking to expand their footprint in southern states ahead of future national polls.