Nine States Get New Governors: Major Changes in Indian State Leadership Announced by Rashtrapati Bhavan

News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/28th July 2024

In a significant reshuffle of state leadership, Lakshman Prasad Acharya has been appointed the Governor of Assam with additional responsibilities for Manipur. Gulab Chand Kataria will now serve as the Governor of Punjab, replacing Banwarilal Purohit. This announcement was made by Rashtrapati Bhavan late Saturday night.

Acharya, who was the Governor of Sikkim, steps into his new role in Assam and will concurrently handle the duties of the Governor of Manipur. This move sees him succeeding Kataria, who also takes on the role of Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh. The Rashtrapati Bhavan communiqué highlighted that President Droupadi Murmu has accepted Purohit’s resignation from his positions as Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh.

Om Prakash Mathur, a seasoned BJP leader, will take over as the Governor of Sikkim, marking another significant change. Anusuiya Uikye, who had been serving as the Governor of Manipur since February last year, will be succeeded by Acharya in his additional capacity.

Another notable appointment is that of C P Radhakrishnan, the outgoing Governor of Jharkhand, who also held additional responsibilities for Telangana. He has been appointed the new Governor of Maharashtra, succeeding Ramesh Bais. To fill Radhakrishnan’s previous role, former Union Labour and Employment Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar will be the new Governor of Jharkhand.

In Telangana, former Deputy Chief Minister of Tripura, Jishnu Dev Varma, will step in as the new Governor. Meanwhile, K Kailashnathan, a trusted aide of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Chief Principal Secretary to the Gujarat Chief Minister, has been named the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry. Kailashnathan recently retired after more than a decade in his previous role, stepping down on June 30.

Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde, a senior BJP leader from Maharashtra, will take on the role of Governor of Rajasthan, replacing Kalraj Mishra. Additionally, Ramen Deka, a former Lok Sabha member from Assam, has been appointed the Governor of Chhattisgarh. C H Vijayashankar, another former Lok Sabha member, from Mysore in Karnataka, will serve as the Governor of Meghalaya.

These appointments are set to take effect from the dates on which the respective individuals assume their new offices. The reshuffling marks a strategic move in the leadership of several Indian states and Union Territories, reflecting the dynamic nature of political appointments in the country.

These changes also emphasize the government’s focus on bringing experienced leaders into key gubernatorial roles, likely aiming to enhance administrative efficiency and governance across these regions. The new appointees bring with them a wealth of experience from various backgrounds, including politics, public administration, and legislative roles, promising a fresh approach to the governance of their respective states and territories.