Hours after being sworn in as a Minister of State in the new NDA government, the sole BJP MP from Kerala, Suresh Gopi, hinted at a potential exit from his ministerial role. Reportedly, he was not happy with the Minister of State position and wanted a cabinet role with a portfolio handling at least eight departments.
The ire he vented on a reporter from Media One has been construed as his frustration over not getting what he wished for when the reporter asked him how he felt about the new role given.
Several times during his election campaign in Thrissur, he had expressed his wish to handle eight departments and emphasized that he would insist the BJP leadership give him the portfolio. However, in a media interview, the actor-politician suggested he might soon be relieved from office, emphasizing his primary commitment to his constituents in Thrissur and his ongoing film projects.
After some dramatic developments, it has now been revealed that Suresh Gopi is continuing with the Minister of State position. He has come forward with an explanation, denying the speculation about his potential exit from his ministerial role, suggesting it was nothing but a media creation.
During his campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Gopi promised to secure a Union Minister role for Thrissur, highlighting that the constituency had never seen one of its MPs attain such a position. He even attributed his election victory, with a margin of nearly 75,000 votes, to this pledge, describing it as Modi's guarantee.
The opposition Congress criticized Gopi’s apparent inconsistency, accusing him of mocking voters with his fluctuating stances. They urged him to clarify his intentions and cease the media spectacle following his oath.
The controversy deepened when Gopi engaged in a heated exchange with a Media One reporter, who questioned his assignment to a Minister of State post rather than a more prominent portfolio.
Gopi defended the MoS role and took a jibe at the channel, referencing its past issues with the NDA government. The previous government had revoked Media One’s license, citing security concerns over alleged links to Jamaat-e-Islami-Hind (JEIH), a decision later overturned by the Supreme Court, which criticized the move as a threat to free speech and press freedom.
Recently, BJP supporters had also attacked the channel’s headquarters in Kozhikode during victory celebrations for Gopi.
Meanwhile, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan expressed optimism about Gopi’s ministerial appointment, suggesting it would enhance Kerala’s participation in national affairs. V Muraleedharan, the former Minister, also indicated that Gopi’s cabinet induction would benefit Thrissur’s development.