The newly formed Modi government has prominently included three ministers with Tamil roots in the Cabinet, despite the BJP-led NDA alliance failing to secure a seat in Tamil Nadu during the recent Lok Sabha elections. The three ministersāNirmala Sitharaman, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and Loganathan Muruganāhave been sworn in, marking a significant representation for the Dravidian state.Nirmala Sitharaman: A Seasoned Leader
Nirmala Sitharaman, 64, continues to hold a prominent position in the Modi Cabinet. An economist by profession, she has served as the Finance Minister from 2019 to 2024 and was previously the Defence Minister from 2017 to 2019. Born in Madurai, Sitharaman is India’s second female finance minister and defence minister, following Indira Gandhi, and the first full-term female minister in each of these portfolios.
As a member of the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka since 2016, Sitharaman has made significant contributions to India’s economic and defense sectors. Under her tenure as finance minister, India emerged as the 5th largest economy globally. She presented the Union Budget for the 6th time in February 2024, equaling Morarji Desai’s record.
Nirmala Sitharaman’s total assets are valued at Rs 2,50,99,396, including both movable and immovable assets. Her leadership and economic strategies have consistently placed her among the world’s most powerful women, featuring in Forbes’ 2022 list at rank 36.
Subrahmanyam Jaishankar: A Diplomatic Powerhouse
Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, 69, also retains his position in the Cabinet, continuing his role as the Minister of External Affairs (MEA). Serving as a Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat, Jaishankar’s tenure from 2019 to 2024 saw him evolve into a confident and assertive leader, effectively shaping India’s foreign policy amidst numerous geopolitical challenges.
A career diplomat, Jaishankar has previously held the position of Foreign Secretary from January 2015 to January 2018. He has served as India’s ambassador to the USA, China, Singapore, and the Czech Republic, making him the second-ever diplomat to be appointed as MEA after Natwar Singh.
Loganathan Murugan: A Ground-Level Leader
Loganathan Murugan, hailing from a Telugu-speaking Arunthathiyar family in Tamil Nadu’s Konur village, Namakkal district, has been sworn in again as the Union Minister of State (MoS). Murugan’s tenure from 2021 to 2024 marked him as the first individual from the Arunthathiyar community to hold a Union Minister position since India’s independence.
Despite facing numerous electoral defeats in constituencies such as Rasipuram, Sankarankoil, Dharapuram, and the Nilgiris, Murugan’s grassroots activism and leadership have kept him a significant figure in Tamil Nadu politics. He also served as the president of BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit from 2020 to 2021, during which he undertook the Vel Yatra to bolster BJP’s Hindutva base in the state.
Murugan’s career is not without controversy, as he has had over 20 criminal cases filed against himāthe highest among NDA Cabinet ministers. His perseverance and dedication to his community and party have solidified his role in the new government.