In a major reshuffle of constitutional appointments, President Droupadi Murmu has appointed new Governors for Haryana and Goa, and a new Lieutenant Governor for the Union Territory of Ladakh. The Rashtrapati Bhavan made the announcement through an official communication on Monday, stating that the appointments will come into effect once the individuals assume charge of their respective offices. The President has also accepted the resignation of Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd) from the post of Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh.
Professor Ashim Kumar Ghosh has been appointed the new Governor of Haryana. A noted academic and seasoned political figure, Ghosh has spent nearly four decades in the field of education, primarily teaching political science. Born in Howrah in 1944, he began his academic journey at Howrah Vivekananda Institution and went on to complete his graduate and postgraduate studies in political science from Vidyasagar College and the University of Calcutta. His entry into politics came in the early 1990s with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Over the years, he held several key positions including state secretary, co-president, and president of the BJP’s West Bengal unit. He also served as an observer for Tripura and was a member of the party’s National Working Committee. Currently a member of the BJP National Council, Ghosh’s appointment is expected to bring an academic and balanced leadership style to the Governor's office in Haryana.
Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju has been named the Governor of Goa. A respected veteran of Indian politics, Raju is a senior leader of the Telugu Desam Party and has previously served as the Union Minister for Civil Aviation from 2014 to 2018. Known for his strong ties to Andhra Pradesh politics and his close association with TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, Raju hails from the aristocratic Pusapati family of Vizianagaram. His extensive political career includes multiple important ministerial roles in the Andhra Pradesh state government, including finance, planning, and revenue. His experience at both state and national levels is expected to benefit Goa's administration as he takes on the constitutional role of Governor.
Kavinder Gupta has been appointed as the new Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh. A veteran BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Gupta brings decades of political experience and grassroots-level engagement to the role. Born in Jammu on December 2, 1959, he began his political activism as a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and was jailed during the Emergency period. He served three consecutive terms as mayor of Jammu and later held significant positions within the BJP, including general secretary of the party’s Jammu and Kashmir unit. He made a notable entry into legislative politics in 2014 by winning the Gandhi Nagar Assembly seat and subsequently held the posts of Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly and Deputy Chief Minister. Gupta’s elevation as Lieutenant Governor is historic, as he becomes the first leader from Jammu to hold the post in Ladakh. With his deep understanding of the region and strong administrative experience, his appointment signals a strategic move to strengthen governance in the Union Territory.
