Minority Mantra

The elevation of George Kurian, long serving Party functionary, to the Union cabinet is part of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s ongoing “Christian project” in Kerala

- Shahina K K

DESPITE being a frequent participant in television debates in Kerala, George Kurian, a surprise addition to the new Union cabinet, is the least trolled Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader in the state. While other celebrities like actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi and former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Alphonse Kannanthanam have faced heavy trolling, Kurian has remained untouched by social media. Known for his calm and balanced demeanour, he has been steadfast in his political positions. Despite being a member of the Christian community, he has never shied away from expressing the overtly communal stance of the Sangh Parivar. A loyalist since the BJP’s formation, Kurian has remained with the Party even during its difficult times.

“Kurian’s political life began with the JP Movement,” recalls his colleague, Narayanan Nambuthiri, BJP spokesperson, Kerala. Nambuthiri, who has known Kurian since 1980, the period of the formation of the BJP, notes that Kurian’s entry into the Party was not unusual for a Christian in Kerala at the time. Kurian started his public life as an active member and office bearer of the Student Morcha, eventually rising to the national leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM). “He was attracted to the ideology upheld by the Jana Sangh and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Not being an opportunist, he stood with the Party through all its ups and downs,” says Nambuthiri.