Suresh Gopi, the union minister of state for tourism, petroleum, and natural gas, stated on Wednesday that he would be relieved to be freed from his ministerial responsibilities because he is passionate about films, according to PTI. At a function held in his honour by the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce, the BJP MP from Thrissur, Kerala, was addressing. PTI reports that Gopi stated that he has no ambition to become a Union minister.
“I bowed to their [BJP’s] decision to make me a minister after they said that they were giving the post to me for the people of Thrissur who voted me to power and not for myself,” he was quoted by the news agency as saying. “I accepted that decision. I still obey my leaders and will continue to do so. But without my passion [cinema], I will die.”
According to PTI, the actor-turned-politician recounted that he was asked how many films he intended to act in when he petitioned Home Minister Amit Shah for permission to restart his acting career, Scroll.in reported.
“I said around 22 [films],” Gopi said. “On hearing that, Amit Shah set aside my request letter. But he said permission will be given.”
Gopi added: “Though I am yet to receive permission, I will join the shooting of the movie Ottakomban starting on September 6.”
In order to assist him in carrying out his responsibilities, the Thrissur MP stated that three or four ministry representatives would be with him during the shoot. To make this arrangement possible, special preparations would need to be undertaken on movie sets.
“All this I want to do,” PTI quoted Gopi as saying. “So, if they remove me for it, I would consider myself saved. That is all I can say.”
Gopi stated in a June interview with a channel that he had constantly informed the BJP that he did not want to join the Cabinet, shortly after taking office as a minister. He added: “I think they will relieve me…they will relieve me sooner than later.”
Gopi subsequently declared, nonetheless, that he would not resign from the Union Council of Ministers. Gopi's victory from Thrissur on June 4 gave the BJP its first-ever Lok Sabha seat in Kerala. By a margin of 74,686 votes, Gopi defeated VS Sunilkumar of the Communist Party of India.