Prime Minister Narendra Modi has dropped George Kurian from the Union Council of Ministers after his Rajya Sabha term expired on June 21, marking the first signs of an impending Cabinet reshuffle. However, Ravneet Singh Bittu, Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing, has not been asked to resign, despite his Rajya Sabha term also ending on the same date.
Kurian resigns; President accepts
George Kurian, who served as Minister of State for Fisheries and Minority Affairs, represented Madhya Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha. He submitted his resignation on June 23, which was accepted by the President of India. A Rashtrapati Bhavan communication stated: "The President of India, as advised by the Prime Minister, has accepted the resignation of George Kurian from the Union Council of Ministers with immediate effect under Clause (2) of Article 75 of the Constitution." Kurian is expected to return to work in Kerala.
Bittu retains position amid Punjab electoral strategy
In contrast, Ravneet Singh Bittu, a senior Punjab BJP leader and Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing, has not been asked to step down. Bittu, 50, was a Rajya Sabha nominee from Rajasthan. The BJP chose not to renominate either Kurian or Bittu for the June 18 Rajya Sabha elections, raising speculation about their ministerial futures. Under the Constitution, a person can continue as minister for up to six months after the expiry of their Rajya Sabha term, but must return to Parliament within that period to remain in office.
Political calculations for the 2027 Punjab elections are believed to be behind Bittu's retention. He is the grandson of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh and an influential Jat Sikh face. A BJP source said: "We need to wait and watch in Bittu’s case," referring to the upcoming Punjab polls and the minister's importance in the state. Removing a senior Sikh face from the Council of Ministers would be difficult as the BJP intensifies efforts to woo all segments of the Punjab electorate. The party recently appointed Kewal Singh Dhillon, a Sikh, as state unit chief.
Implications for Cabinet reshuffle
The differential treatment of Kurian and Bittu signals the BJP's strategic approach to electoral politics. While Kurian's departure was swift, Bittu's case remains under review, with the party weighing the impact on Punjab's political landscape. The developments come ahead of a broader Union Cabinet reshuffle expected in the coming months.
