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.[1][2]
Early life
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.[3][4] He is also a law graduate and has practiced in Supreme Court.[5][3]
Political career
He joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ever since the formation of the party in 1980.[4] 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.[5]
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.[6]
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
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.[4]
Lok Sabha
| 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
He is married to Lt. Col. O. T. Annamma who is a retired nursing officer in the Indian Army.[5] They have two children, Adarsh George Pockaran and Akash George Pockaran.
References
- 1.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.
- 2.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.
- 3.[3.2]"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.
- 4.[4.2][4.3]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.
- 5.[5.2][5.3]Who is George Kurian, Kerala's second minister in the new NDA government?, 9 June 2024
- 6.The Hindu (9 June 2024). "Modi Cabinet 2024: List of Cabinet Ministers". Archived from the original on 9 June 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2024.