Union minister L Murugan writes to PM Modi seeking exit from Union cabinet

NEW DELHI: Union minister of state for Information and Broadcasting L Murugan has sought to step down from the Union Council of Ministers and relinquish his Rajya Sabha membership, saying he wants to return to grassroots politics. Murugan said he intends to devote himself full-time to strengthening the BJP in Tamil Nadu and preparing the party for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.

In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Murugan said he wished to focus on expanding the party’s presence across the state. He also shared the letter on X, reiterating his commitment to working with party workers. “With humility and a grateful heart, I therefore request you to relieve me of my responsibilities as Minister of State and permit me to relinquish my membership of the Rajya Sabha, so that I may dedicate myself full-time to strengthening the party in Tamil Nadu,” Murugan wrote in the letter.

He added, “I want to go to every village and every street, meet our people, stand beside our karyakartas and help expand the party's presence in every part of the State.” In his post on X, Murugan said, “It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve Bharat Mata and Tamil Nadu under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.”

“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,” he added. Murugan also expressed gratitude to Modi for giving him the opportunity to serve in the Union government, highlighting his background as the son of daily wage labourers.

“I do not come from a political family. I come from a very poor family. My parents, who worked as daily wage labourers and cattle grazers, continue to lead a simple life in Konur village,” he wrote.

Reflecting on his political journey, Murugan said his guiding principle over nearly three decades in the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the BJP had remained: “Nation First, Party Next, Self Last.” Murugan has served as minister of state for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs. From July 2021 to June 2024, he also held the portfolios of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying alongside Information and Broadcasting. He previously served as vice-chairperson of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes from 2017 to 2020 and as BJP Tamil Nadu president.