Union Minister George Kurian Resigns, Cabinet Reshuffle Speculated

New Delhi: Union minister of state for minority affairs George Kurian on Tuesday resigned from the council of ministers, fuelling speculation about a possible Cabinet reshuffle.

Kurian's Rajya Sabha term ended on June 21 and BJP decided not to renominate him to the Upper House. President Droupadi Murmu has accepted his resignation.

BJP sources told ET that reshuffle was on the cards and several new faces would be inducted in the ministry.

Also Read: Only because of Modi I became Union Minister, says George Kurian

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on the sidelines of a Padma Award function. While officials said that it was a courtesy call following his recent foreign trips, sources suggested that a reshuffle might have figured during talks.

Sources told ET that the government may consider Kurian's name for governor's post in the near future. Three governors - Karnataka's Thawar Chand Gehlot, Madhya Pradesh's Mangubhai Patel and Uttarakhand's Lt Gen Gurmit Singh - are set to complete their terms in July.

Kurian apart, Union minister of state for railways Ravneet Singh Bittu's term as Rajya Sabha member has also come to an end.

Some other ministers, such as Pankaj Chaudhary and Harsh Malhotra, have been appointed as state BJP presidents in UP and Delhi, respectively. In line with the principle of one man, one post, these leaders are expected to make way for newcomers in the Union council of ministers.

Rajya Sabha terms of Union ministers Hardeep Puri and BL Verma will end in November. BJP will take a call on their ministerial tenure soon.

Also Read: BJP names Rajya Sabha candidates; Bittu, Kurian left out, fuelling Cabinet reshuffle buzz

Party insiders informed that some leaders could be appointed ambassadors to various countries. Recently, BJP leader and former Union minister Dinesh Trivedi was appointed as high commissioner to Bangladesh.