Actor turned politician from Kerala, Suresh Gopi, who was sworn in as minister of state in the Modi 3.0 government on Sunday, has denied saying he does not want a ministerial berth and is interested only in completing his films and serving the people of Thrissur as MP.
Several news outlets had reported Gopi telling a Malayalam TV channel after being sworn in as MoS in the NDA government that he wanted to work as an MP and did not need the ministerial post.
The news outlets quoted Gopi as telling the regional channel that he wanted to complete the movies he had signed up for and only work as an MP.
“I didn’t ask for anything, I want to work as an MP. I had said I did not need this post, I think I’ll be relieved from the post soon… people of Thrissur know it. As an MP I will perform really well for them. I have to do films at any cost,” he had reportedly said, according to the news outlets.
CNBC-TV18, however, quoted Gopi as saying that he had “already accepted the ministerial position and I have been sworn in."
He said he was awaiting instructions to take charge of his ministry.
Gopi won the Lok Sabha seat after defeating the CPI’s VS Sunil Kumar and Congress’ K Muraleedharan.
He made history after becoming the first BJP MP from Left-leaning Kerala. He and senior leader George Kurian were the only BJP nominees from the southern state to find a ministerial berth in the Union Cabinet.
The move makes it evident that the BJP is looking seriously at making inroads into Kerala, where elections will be held in 2026.
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