The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced Union Minister George Kurian as its candidate for the Kanjirappally constituency in the upcoming 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, set for April 9. Born on September 20, 1960, in Nambiakulam, Kottayam district, Kerala, Kurian has been a member of the BJP since its inception, joining at the young age of 19. He has held various roles within the party, including executive member of the BJP Kerala state unit and national vice president of the BJP minority morcha. Kurian previously contested the Puthuppally Assembly constituency in 2016 but lost to then Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. He is currently the Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, as well as Minority Affairs. His political career spans almost five decades, and he has also served as a board member of the National Commission for Minorities. The election results will be counted on May 4.