In a major reshuffle, President Droupadi Murmu has appointed new governors for five Indian states, introducing key leadership changes in Manipur, Bihar, Kerala, Mizoram, and Odisha. The announcement was made through a statement issued by the President’s Secretariat on Tuesday.
Ajay Kumar Bhalla, former Union Home Secretary, has been named the Governor of Manipur. Bhalla, a 1984-batch IAS officer, served as the Home Secretary from August 22, 2019, to August 22, 2024. His extensive administrative experience is expected to play a pivotal role in his new assignment.
Arif Mohammed Khan, who served as the Governor of Kerala since 2019, has been reassigned as the Governor of Bihar. Born on November 18, 1951, in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, Khan is an alumnus of Aligarh Muslim University and Lucknow University. A staunch critic of the Muslim Personal Law Board, he gained national attention by resigning from Rajiv Gandhi’s cabinet over the Shah Bano case. Khan has represented the Kanpur and Bahraich constituencies in the Lok Sabha across multiple terms.
Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, previously the Governor of Bihar, will now serve as the Governor of Kerala. Arlekar’s political journey began with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at a young age before joining the BJP in 1989. Over the years, he has held significant positions, including Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly and Cabinet Minister in Goa. He also served as the Governor of Himachal Pradesh before being appointed Governor of Bihar in February 2023.
The Governor of Mizoram, Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati, has been appointed as the Governor of Odisha. His tenure will begin following the resignation of the current Odisha Governor, Raghubar Das.
Ex Union Minister and retired Army-Chief-General Vijay Kumar Singh was appointed as the Governor of Mizoram. General Singh served in the Indian Army for 42 years, playing a crucial role in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War and participating in operations against the LTTE in Sri Lanka in 1987. Earlier this year, he announced his retirement from electoral politics, marking a new phase in his public service career.
These appointments underscore the government's strategic reshuffling to enhance governance and leadership across the states.