New Delhi – Hours after being sworn in as a Minister of State (MoS) in the third Modi Government, BJP MP from Kerala, Suresh Gopi, expressed his preference to “get relieved from the Cabinet”.
During the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign, Gopi, an actor-turned-politician, championed the slogan “a Union minister for Thrissur, Modi’s guarantee”. Gopi and senior party leader George Kurian were the two BJP nominees from Kerala who were inducted into the Union Cabinet as Ministers of State.
Speaking to Malayalam TV channels in Delhi post-ceremony, Gopi said, “I want to work as an MP. My stand was that I didn’t want it (Cabinet berth). I had told (the party) that I was not interested in it (Cabinet berth). I think I will be relieved soon.”
He further added, “The people of Thrissur know very well. I will perform very well as an MP. I want to act in films. Let the party decide.” Gopi’s remarks came just hours before the Union Cabinet’s first meeting on Monday.
Gopi, 65, heavily promoted the promise of “A Union Minister for Thrissur, Modi’s guarantee” during campaign events and on the walls of Thrissur. After securing his Lok Sabha seat, Gopi reiterated his commitment to the film industry, stating that acting remains his passion with several projects already in the pipeline.
Before departing for Delhi on Sunday, Gopi told the media at Thiruvananthapuram airport, “This (a Cabinet berth) is Modi’s decision. He called me and asked me to be at his home. I am obeying. I do not know anything else. I would be an MP who is working for Kerala and Tamil Nadu. I had already told people of Thrissur during the campaigning.”
The Union Cabinet berth for Gopi, who won the Thrissur Lok Sabha seat with a majority of over 74,000 votes, defeating Communist Party of India leader V S Sunilkumar in a three-way contest, marks another milestone for the BJP in Kerala. Gopi’s induction into the Cabinet is a significant achievement for the party, as he is the BJP’s first-ever Lok Sabha member from Kerala.