Suresh Gopi, the Union minister of state for tourism and petroleum, has put the BJP in a spot by insisting that he would continue to pursue his acting career and openly admitting he would be “saved” if he’s dropped from the council of ministers.

Though Kerala BJP leaders are tongue-tied over Gopi’s recent declaration that he would resume acting in movies on September 6 and would get a few of his personal staff to work in a caravan during movie shoots, prioritising cinema over his duties as a minister has left his party colleagues in a bind.

On Wednesday, Gopi had said during a Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce event that he had agreed to do 20 to 22 films and would resume acting on September 6.

What followed has, however, not gone down well with the party and Gopi’s supporters. “When he (Amit Shah) asked me how many films I had in the pipeline, I had said about 22. Amit Shah took that paper (apparently his written request) and threw it,” Gopi had said smilingly.

Gopi, however, was quick to add: “But he (Shah) has said I would be permitted.”

The actor even said he would get three to four of his personal staff to do his ministerial work from a caravan he would provide them at the shoot location. “Now, if they ask me to leave (resign), I am saved,” he said to loud cheers.

That he meant business was evident recently when he shared a casting-call notice on his Facebook page for one of his latest films.

Dragging Shah’s name has not gone down well in the party.

Sources said the feeling was no different even at the national level where the party has been apprised about what Gopi had said in Malayalam.

Most of the state leaders have no love lost for Gopi who has repeatedly said in their presence that his leaders were in Delhi, alluding to Narendra Modi and Shah.

Although it’s a fact that Gopi was a reluctant minister who dithered before
being summoned to Delhi to be sworn in, his election pitch was that it was “Modi’s guarantee” that Thrissur would get a central minister if he’s elected.