Union Minister Suresh Gopi on Sunday expressed his desire to step down from his ministerial post, saying that he wishes to continue his film career.
While addressing party workers at an event in Kerala’s
Kannur, the BJP’s first Lok Sabha MP from Kerala said that his income has significantly decreased since taking up the ministerial role, news agency PTI reported.
“I never wanted to be a minister by quitting my film career. I really want to continue acting. I need to earn more; my income has now stopped completely,” he said.
“I have never prayed to become a minister. A day before the elections, I told reporters that I do not want to become a minister, I want to continue with my cinema. I took membership of the party in October 2008… it was the first MP chosen by people, and the party felt they needed to make me the minister,” Gopi said as quoted by news agency ANI.
Noting that he is the youngest member in his party, the Union Minister recommended BJP’s newly elected Rajya Sabha member C Sadanandan Master as his replacement in the central cabinet. Gopi said that the senior leader’s nomination to the Rajya Sabha marked a significant breakthrough in the politics of northern Kannur district.
”I am saying here with sincerity that Sadanandan Master should be made a (union) minister after removing me. I believe that it will become a new chapter in the political history of Kerala,” he added.
Sadanandan Master, a senior leader of the saffron party from Kannur district, is a survivor of political violence. He lost both his legs during an alleged attack by CPI(M) workers in 1994.
Gopi, who scripted a stunning victory from Thrissur to help the BJP win its first-ever Lok Sabha seat from Kerala in 2024, was initially reluctant to take up a ministerial post since he had a few committed film projects lined up.
But following pressure from the party’s leadership, he reached Delhi hours before the swearing-in and was made the Minister of State for Petroleum and Tourism.
With over 250 films under his belt in a career which began in the mid ’80s, Gopi is known as the ‘Aangry young man of Malayalam films’.
Gopi’s tryst with politics began following his closeness to four-time Congress Chief Minister K. Karunakaran. However, after Karunakaran quit active politics and Oommen Chandy earned prominence, Gopi did not enjoy the same chemistry with the latter and eventually bid goodbye to the Congress.
(With inputs from agencies)