L. Murugan steps down from Union Ministry and Rajya Sabha
Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs L. Murugan announced his resignation from both the Council of Ministers and his Rajya Sabha seat on 13 October 2026. The move has intensified talk of a forthcoming cabinet reshuffle, with party insiders suggesting a possible re‑organisation before the Deepavali celebrations.
Reasons behind the resignation
Murugan, a Tamil Nadu native who was elected to the Upper House from Madhya Pradesh, stated that he wishes to return to his home state to bolster the party’s grassroots network ahead of the 2029 general election. He conveyed his request in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasizing the need to reinforce the party’s presence in Tamil Nadu after observing strong public support during the Prime Minister’s recent visit.
Political context and other vacancies
The resignation follows a pattern of departures this year. Union Ministers of State George Kurien and Ravneet Singh Bittu also stepped down after completing their terms in the Upper House. Additionally, the Rajya Sabha terms of Union Ministers Hardeep Puri and B.L. Verma are set to conclude next month. The BJP has recently added eight new members from Uttar Pradesh and one each from West Bengal and Uttarakhand, while rumours persist about further resignations from ministers appointed as state party chiefs.
With at least half a dozen ministerial posts now vacant, party sources indicate that a reshuffle could be imminent. This would be the first major change to the Union Cabinet since Narendra Modi began his third consecutive term, during which 71 ministers were sworn in.
Implications for Tamil Nadu and upcoming elections
Murugan’s decision to focus on Tamil Nadu aligns with the party’s broader strategy to consolidate support in the southern state. The move comes as Tamil Nadu experiences heavy rainfall across several districts, a situation reported in a recent article here. Strengthening the party’s grassroots network could be crucial in navigating both political and environmental challenges in the region.
Further, the South Indian climate outlook, including easterly winds as the northeast monsoon retreats, has been highlighted in another report here. While not directly linked to the resignation, these regional dynamics underscore the broader context in which the party seeks to reinforce its presence.
What comes next?
Following Murugan’s exit, the BJP is expected to nominate a new member from Madhya Pradesh to fill the Rajya Sabha vacancy, likely maintaining the party’s numerical strength in the Upper House. The anticipated cabinet reshuffle, if announced before Deepavali, could see fresh faces entering the Council of Ministers, potentially altering the composition of the government for the remainder of the term.
Until an official announcement is made, the exact timeline and scope of the reshuffle remain uncertain, but political analysts agree that Murugan’s resignation is a clear signal of strategic realignment ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Sources: The Hindu, NDTV, The Times of India.
