Who is L Murugan? From son of daily wage laborers to MOS, why his resignation prompts changes in cabinet composition | Today’s news
Union Minister of State (MoS) L Murugan resigned from the Union government on 13 October. Murugan, junior minister for information and broadcasting and parliamentary affairs, said he wanted to return to his “people” in Tamil Nadu to strengthen the BJP in the state.
Murugan also resigned as a member of the Rajya Sabha (MP). His resignation sparked speculation of an imminent change in the Council of Ministers.
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This is the third resignation of a Minister of State (MoS) from the Council of Ministers after George Kurian and Ravneet Singh Bittu, who resigned in June and July respectively after they were not renominated for the Rajya Sabha elections by the BJP.
Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri was also not renominated by the BJP in the just concluded Rajya Sabha elections from Uttar Pradesh. However, he remains a member of the union cabinet.
Similarly, the MO in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, BL Verma, was not renominated for the Upper House elections. He is also still in office.
Two other MoSs, Pankaj Chaudhary and Harsh Malhotra, who were appointed as BJP unit chiefs in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi in recent months, continue to fulfill both duties.
“I have asked our Prime Minister to remove me from the Council of Ministers and Rajya Sabha as I want to go to Tamil Nadu to strengthen our party.
Who is L Murugan?
L Murugan was born on 29 May 1977 in Konur, Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu, according to the official website of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Graduated in Law from Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law College in Chennai. He also holds Masters and PhD degrees from the University of Madras.
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Murugan joined the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), in 1997.
On 12 March 2020, Murugan was appointed as the chief of the Tamil Nadu unit of the BJP.
Murugan served as the Minister of State (MoS) in the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying in 2024. Prior to that, he also served as the Vice-Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) from 2017 to 2020.
Murugan lost the 2024 Lok Sabha election to DMK’s A Raja in the Nilgiris constituency in Tamil Nadu, but was inducted into the NDA Council of Ministers through the Rajya Sabha.
Murugan has been a member of the Rajya Sabha since September 2021 and was re-elected to the upper house in April 2024 from Madhya Pradesh. His term ends in April 2030. The minister said he wants to give up his Rajya Sabha membership.
Murugan has practiced law for at least 15 years and also serves as Standing Counsel for the Government of India in the Madras High Court.
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“In my letter to the Prime Minister, I have stated that I want to strengthen our party by going to villages, streets and everywhere else and pave the way for the 2029 assembly elections,” Murugan told PTI.
Murugran said in the letter that it was the “greatest honour” of his life to serve “Bharat Mata” and Tamil Nadu under his leadership.
“Hence, with a humble and grateful heart, I request you to relieve me of my responsibility as MoS and allow me to give up my Rajya Sabha membership so that I can fully devote myself to strengthening the party in Tamil Nadu,” he said.
“Son of Day Laborers”
Murugan said that from being the son of daily wage laborers to serving in the Union Council of Ministers under Prime Minister Modi has been the greatest privilege of his life.
“I now wish to return to the local level, stand with our ‘karyakartas’ and devote myself full-time to strengthening the BJP in Tamil Nadu ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. Nation First. Party Next. Self Last,” he said.
Murugan said the love and hopes he witnessed during the Prime Minister’s recent visit to Tamil Nadu strengthened his belief that the party can achieve much more in Tamil Nadu.
“Now I would like to go back to the local level, stand with our ‘karyakartas’ and devote myself full-time to strengthening the BJP in Tamil Nadu ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.”
“I would like to devote my full time and energy to preparing the party for the 2029 parliamentary elections and work for another term under your leadership, this time with an overwhelming contribution of seats from Tamil Nadu.
