L Murugan resigns as MoS, fuels speculation of Cabinet reshuffle

14/10/2026

NEW DELHI, Oct 13: Union Minister of State L Murugan on Tuesday resigned from the Union Council of Ministers, citing his desire to return to Tamil Nadu and strengthen the BJP at the grassroots, triggering speculation about a possible Cabinet reshuffle.
Murugan, who holds the portfolios of Information and Broadcasting and Parliam-entary Affairs as Minister of State, said he had requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to relieve him of his ministerial responsibilities and allow him to relinquish his Rajya Sabha membership.
In a letter to the prime minister, Murugan said he wanted to devote his full time and energy to strengthening the BJP in Tamil Nadu and preparing the party for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
"It is the greatest honour of my life to serve Bharat Mata and Tamil Nadu under your leadership," he said, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve in the Union government.
Murugan said he wished to return to the grassroots, work alongside party workers and expand the BJP's presence across Tamil Nadu by reaching out to people in villages and urban areas.
He said the trust placed in him by Modi, despite his humble background as the son of daily wage labourers, would remain the greatest privilege of his life.
Murugan's resignation is the third by a Minister of State in recent months, following George Kurian and Ravneet Singh Bittu, who stepped down in June and July, respectively, after not being renominated by the BJP for Rajya Sabha elections.
The developments have fuelled speculation about changes in the Council of Ministers, although no official announcement regarding a Cabinet reshuffle was available.
Murugan has been a Rajya Sabha member since September 2021 and was re-elected to the Upper House from Madhya Pradesh in April 2024. His current term is scheduled to end in April 2030.
Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Minister of State B L Verma were also not renominated for the recent Rajya Sabha elections but continue to hold their ministerial positions.
Similarly, Ministers of State Pankaj Chaudhary and Harsh Malhotra, who were appointed presidents of the BJP's Uttar Pradesh and Delhi units, respectively, continue to discharge their ministerial responsibilities alongside their organisational roles.
Murugan said the enthusiasm and public response witnessed during the prime minister's recent visit to Tamil Nadu had strengthened his belief that the BJP could further expand its political footprint in the state.
He expressed his desire to carry the prime minister's message of inclusive development to every section of society and work towards improving the party's electoral prospects in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
The minister said he was seeking the prime minister's blessings to repay the trust placed in him through dedicated work among the people and party workers.

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