THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Union Minister Suresh Gopi replied, "I am a minister" when asked if he would participate in the global Ayyappa Sangam. The minister's response was when he arrived at the medical college to participate in a program organized by Seva Bharathi. Suresh Gopi, who did not respond to the question at first, responded this way later.

Devaswom President PS Prashanth had invited Suresh Gopi to the Ayyappa Sangam being organized by the state government. The organizers had earlier stated that two Union ministers from Kerala would be invited to the Sangam. However, it is still unclear whether they will participate in the backdrop of the BJP raising strong criticism against the Sangam. The question to Suresh Gopi was in the context of this.