George Kurian (politician)
George Kurian | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying | |
| In office 10 June 2024 – 23 June 2026[1] | |
| Minister | Rajiv Ranjan Singh |
| Preceded by | L. Murugan |
| Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs | |
| In office 10 June 2024 – 23 June 2026 | |
| Minister | Kiren Rijiju |
| Preceded by | John Barla |
| Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha | |
| In office 28 August 2024 – 21 June 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Jyotiraditya Scindia |
| Constituency | Madhya Pradesh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 September 1960 Kurumulloor, Kerala, India |
| Party |  Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | |
| Occupation |
|
George Kurian (born 20 September 1960) is an Indian politician and lawyer from Kerala, who served as the Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Minority Affairs in the third Modi ministry. He is a long-standing member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) who joined the party ever since its formation in 1980. He was a lawyer in the Supreme Court of India. He was a member of Rajya Sabha. He also contested in Kerala state assembly elections many times.
Previously, he has served as the vice-chairman of National Commission for Minorities and as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the then Minister of State for Railways, O. Rajagopal.[2][3]
Early life
[edit]Kurian was born at Ettumanoor in the Kottayam district of Kerala. After earning a B.Sc. from the K.E. College, Mannanam, he completed his M.A. at the Government College, Kottayam.[4][5] He is also a law graduate from School of Indian Legal Thought and has practiced in Supreme Court.[6][4]
Political career
[edit]
He joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ever since the formation of the party in 1980.[5] George has held various positions, such as membership in the national executive committee of BJP, as the national vice-president of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha. He was the first Malayali to serve as the vice-chairman of the National Commission for Minorities. George was also appointed as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) for the former Minister of State for Railways, O. Rajagopal. He later became a core committee member and vice-president of the BJP's Kerala unit. He has also served as a translator for the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi during his visits to the state.[6]
On 9 June 2024, he was sworn in as a Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Minority Affairs in the third Modi ministry.[7]
Later, he was elected unopposed as Rajya Sabha member from Madhya Pradesh.
He resigned from the minister post on 23 June 2026 to focus on the BJP party organization works in Kerala.
Elections
[edit]In 2016, Kurian unsuccessfully contested as a BJP candidate from Puthuppally Assembly constituency against the then Chief Minister of Kerala and Indian National Congress candidate Oommen Chandy.[5]
Lok Sabha
[edit]| Year | Constituency | Party | Votes | % | Opponent | Party | Votes | % | Result | Margin | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Kottayam | BJP | 22,622 | 3.21 | Ramesh Chennithala | INC | 366,759 | 51.98 | Lost |  344,137 |
48.77 | ||
| 1996 | Muvattupuzha | BJP | 30,097 | 4.28 | P. C. Thomas | KC(M) | 382,319 | 54.41 | Lost | 352,222 |
50.13 | ||
| 1998 | Kottayam | BJP | 42,830 | 5.99 | Suresh Kurup | CPI(M) | 335,893 | 46.98 | Lost | 293,063 |
40.99 | ||
Personal life
[edit]He is married to Lt. Col. O. T. Annamma who is a retired nursing officer in the Indian Army.[6] They have two children, Adarsh George Pockaran and Akash George Pockaran.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ "George Kurian resigns as Union Minister after RS tenure ends". The Hindu. 23 June 2026. Archived from the original on 24 June 2026. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
- ↑ Philip, Shaju (10 June 2024). "BJP's Christian face in Kerala: Who is George Kurian, second minister from the state in Modi govt?". The Indian Express. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ↑ M, Arun (9 June 2024). "Who is George Kurian, Kerala's second minister in the new NDA government?". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- 1 2 "George Kurian: Sangh's rare Christian footsoldier becomes Modi's mantri". The Times of India. 9 June 2024. Archived from the original on 9 June 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- 1 2 3 Philip, Shaju (10 June 2024). "BJP's Christian face in Kerala: Who is George Kurian, second minister from the state in Modi govt?". The Indian Express. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- 1 2 3 Who is George Kurian, Kerala's second minister in the new NDA government?, 9 June 2024
- ↑ The Hindu (9 June 2024). "Modi Cabinet 2024: List of Cabinet Ministers". Archived from the original on 9 June 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- "Bittu from Rajasthan, Kurian from MP: BJP names nine for RS bypolls". The Indian Express. 21 August 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
- Living people
- Politicians from Kottayam
- Narendra Modi ministry
- Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Kerala
- 1960 births
- Rajya Sabha members from Madhya Pradesh
- St. Thomas College, Thrissur, alumni
- Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, alumni
- Politicians from Kottayam district
- Syro-Malabar Catholics
- 20th-century Indian lawyers
- 21st-century Indian lawyers
- 20th-century Indian politicians
- 21st-century Indian politicians
- Ministry of Minority Affairs