L. Murugan quits as Union minister and Rajya Sabha MP to build BJP in Tamil Nadu
Representative image: wal_172619 / Pixabay
L. Murugan resigned as Minister of State for I&B and Parliamentary Affairs and from the Rajya Sabha on 13 October 2026 to work for the BJP in Tamil Nadu.
What Happened
L. Murugan, the Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, resigned from the Council of Ministers and from his Rajya Sabha seat on Tuesday, 13 October 2026. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he asked to be relieved of his ministerial duties so that he could return to grassroots work in Tamil Nadu and help strengthen the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. Murugan, a former Tamil Nadu BJP president, represents Madhya Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha. The move has added to speculation in Delhi about a Union Cabinet reshuffle, though no reshuffle has been announced.
Key Facts
- Who: L. Murugan, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and for Parliamentary Affairs.
- What: resigned as minister and as a member of the Rajya Sabha on 13 October 2026.
- Reason given: to return to party work in Tamil Nadu and build the BJP there before the 2029 general election.
- Seat: he was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh, as the BJP does not have enough MLAs in the Tamil Nadu Assembly to elect a member from that state.
- Next steps: the ministerial resignation takes effect when the President accepts it on the Prime Minister's advice; the Rajya Sabha resignation must be accepted by the Chairman of the House.
- No acceptance of either resignation, and no successor, had been reported by the morning of 14 October.
Why It Matters
It is unusual for a sitting Union minister to give up both a ministry and a parliamentary seat to go back to organisational work in a state. The decision says as much about the BJP's plans for Tamil Nadu as about Murugan himself. The party has long struggled to win seats in the state, where politics has been dominated by regional parties. Sending a senior leader with ministerial experience back to the state signals that the BJP sees Tamil Nadu as a priority for the next general election.
The resignation also leaves two practical gaps in government. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry and the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry will need a new minister of state, or the work will be shared among existing ministers. Parliamentary Affairs is a coordinating role that matters most when Parliament is in session, so the government will want clarity well before the winter session.
The vacant Rajya Sabha seat from Madhya Pradesh will be filled through a by-election once the resignation is accepted and the Election Commission issues a schedule. Because the members of the state assembly elect Rajya Sabha members, the party with a majority in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly is placed to win it. Reports have linked the timing to wider changes at the Centre, but until the government announces a reshuffle, those remain speculation.
| | Step | Who decides | |
|---|---|
| | Resignation as Union minister | President, on the Prime Minister's advice | |
| | Resignation from Rajya Sabha | Chairman of the Rajya Sabha | |
| | Filling the Madhya Pradesh seat | By-election scheduled by the Election Commission | |
| | Replacing him as minister | Prime Minister | |
Impact
Short-term: The Centre must reassign Murugan's responsibilities in two ministries, and the Election Commission will in due course schedule a by-election for his Rajya Sabha seat.
Long-term: Murugan's return to Tamil Nadu marks a sharper BJP push in the state ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha polls, which could shape alliance talks and the party's campaign there.
Who is affected: The Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs ministries, the BJP's Tamil Nadu unit and its allies, Madhya Pradesh legislators who will vote in the by-election, and voters in Tamil Nadu.
Key Takeaway
L. Murugan resigned as a Union minister and Rajya Sabha member on 13 October 2026 to return to Tamil Nadu and build the BJP there, leaving two ministry posts and a Madhya Pradesh seat to be filled.
Questions and Answers
Why did L. Murugan resign?
In his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said he wanted to return to grassroots work in Tamil Nadu and strengthen the BJP there ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
Which posts did he give up?
He resigned as Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and for Parliamentary Affairs, and as a Rajya Sabha member from Madhya Pradesh, on 13 October 2026.
When does a minister's resignation take effect?
When the President accepts it on the Prime Minister's advice. His resignation from the Rajya Sabha has to be accepted by the Chairman of the House.
Will there be a by-election for his seat?
Yes. Once the resignation is accepted, the Election Commission will hold a by-election for the vacant Madhya Pradesh seat, in which the state's MLAs vote.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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Reported, fact-checked and published by the Peepals Global Editorial Team.
