L Murugan Resigns as Union Minister to Strengthen BJP

Union Minister of State L Murugan resigned from the Council of Ministers and his Rajya Sabha seat on October 13, 2026. Murugan, who held portfolios for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi of his decision to return to Tamil Nadu to focus on grassroots organizational work for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.

Murugan stated that a recent visit by the Prime Minister to Tamil Nadu inspired his decision. The move follows a series of electoral setbacks for Murugan in his home state, including losses in the 2021 and 2026 assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

His departure leaves at least six ministerial berths open following other recent vacancies. This has led to speculation among BJP sources that the government may conduct a Cabinet reshuffle before Deepavali, which would be the first such reshuffle since the Prime Minister began his third term. The government has not officially confirmed a reshuffle.