Malayalam actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi assumed charge as the Minister of State

Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri welcomed Gopi and presented him with a bouquet, followed by a similar welcome in the Ministry of Tourism office.

Expressing his gratitude and acknowledging the responsibility, Gopi thanked the people of his Thrissur constituency for their support. "It's a huge responsibility. So, I have to look at the prospects that the PM is looking forward to... After going through all the content of the next level of emerging petroleum systems in India, maybe I will be able to put in my contribution. Let's keep our thoughts open. Thanks to the people of Kerala, Thrissur. You gave me this opportunity," Gopi told news agency ANI after taking charge as Minister of State.

Gopi was among the 71 members sworn into Prime Minister Narendra Modi's council of ministers on Sunday, with portfolios allocated on Monday. Despite rumors of his resignation a day after being sworn in, Gopi dismissed these as "grossly incorrect," affirming his pride in serving in the council of ministers and representing the people of Kerala.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Gopi defeated advocate and CPM candidate V.S. Sunilkumar by 74,686 votes from Thrissur. On June 4, the day the election results were announced, he expressed his joy and termed his victory as a remarkable achievement. "I am in totally an ecstatic mood. What was very impossible became gloriously possible... it was not a 62-day campaign process, it was an emotional carriage for the past 7 years... I work for Kerala as a whole. My first pick will be to have AIIMS..." Gopi told news agency ANI.