L Murugan resigns as Union minister to focus on BJP in Tamil Nadu

Union Minister of State L. Murugan has offered his resignation from the central government, seeking to return to Tamil Nadu to dedicate himself entirely to organisational work for the Bharatiya Janata Party.

In a formal letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, Murugan requested to be relieved of his ministerial responsibilities and sought permission to relinquish his membership of the Rajya Sabha. The move marks a deliberate pivot by the ruling party to channel senior leadership directly into its long-term expansion drive in southern India.

Murugan served as Minister of State in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting as well as the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. In his letter, he described serving the country and Tamil Nadu under the Prime Minister's leadership as the greatest honour of his life, explaining that full-time commitment on the ground was essential to consolidate the party's grassroots footprint.

Strengthening the BJP base in Tamil Nadu

Murugan previously led the BJP's Tamil Nadu unit before his induction into the Union Council of Ministers, where he oversaw key portfolios and represented the administration in Parliament. His return to direct state affairs reflects the party leadership's determined push to build a durable political presence across Tamil Nadu.

By moving an experienced central leader back into the state machinery, the BJP aims to streamline outreach, coordinate regional leadership, and convert national developmental initiatives into local electoral momentum.

Talk of a Union Cabinet reshuffle

Murugan's resignation has immediately triggered discussions within New Delhi over a wider reshuffle of the Union Council of Ministers. The departure creates vacancies in both parliamentary and broadcast oversight, providing an opening for administrative realignment as the Modi government continues to execute its governance agenda.

Party managers have increasingly balanced ministerial duty with targeted organisational deployments, sending proven figures back to states where party structures require reinforcement ahead of upcoming political contests.

Opposition stages capital protest

Meanwhile, opposition parties gathered in the capital to criticise the central administration and electoral bodies. Leaders of the INDIA alliance, including Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav, staged demonstrations after authorities moved planned rallies away from Jantar Mantar towards designated peripheral sites.

Yadav alleged that central investigative agencies and the Election Commission faced administrative interference. Other regional figures present included D. Raja, Supriya Sule, and Harendra Malik. Government officials have consistently maintained that all statutory bodies act within constitutional mandates, and that public assembly restrictions in central Delhi are enforced to preserve order and security across vital administrative zones.