NEW DELHI: BJP’s George Kurian from Kerala took oath as minister of state on Sunday in Modi government 3.0. Kurian has been associated with the BJP since its inception in 1980, having been active in the saffron party movement post-Emergency in the late 1970s.
Throughout the party’s ups and downs, he has held various key positions in the state party, such as vice president and general secretary, while maintaining a good relationship with several national leaders.
Kurian’s commitment to the BJP’s core ideology is evident from his involvement in the party’s youth wing under the leadership of Govindacharya, Pramod Mahajan, and Venkaiah Naidu. A lawyer by profession, he has held positions such as national vice president of the Yuva Morcha, Minority Morcha, and National Council member of the BJP. During the first Narendra Modi government, Kurian served as a member and later as the vice chairman of the National Minority Commission. He also served as an Officer on Special Duty to O Rajagopal during the latter’s tenure as the union railway minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.
Known for his no-nonsense style of functioning, Kurian’s ministerial position is seen as a message from the BJP to the Christian community in Kerala, signaling the party’s desire to strengthen its bond with them. The BJP has been reaching out to the Christians, who make up nearly 20 per cent of Kerala’s population, in an effort to expand its base. The party has acknowledged the Christian community’s contribution to its stunning electoral victory in the Thrissur seat during the Lok Sabha polls. Kurian’s proficiency in Hindi and English has also made him a valuable asset to the party, as he has often served as a translator during significant party programmes attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior ministers in the state.
