New Delhi December 24 : In a significant reshuffle of gubernatorial posts, former Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla has been appointed as the Governor of Manipur. This northeastern state has been grappling with ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities since May last year. The announcement was made by Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday.
Bhalla, a retired IAS officer of the 1984 batch from the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, is noted for being the longest-serving Union Home Secretary, having completed a five-year tenure in August. Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya had been holding additional charge of Manipur until this appointment.
Additionally, former Army Chief General (Retd.) Vijay Kumar Singh has been named the new Governor of Mizoram. Singh, who served as Army Chief until 2012, later entered politics and held ministerial positions during the two previous Modi governments. Singh, a BJP MP from Ghaziabad since 2014, did not contest the 2024 general elections.
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has been appointed as the new Governor of Bihar, where Assembly elections are scheduled for next year. Vishwanath Arlekar will succeed Khan as the Governor of Kerala.
Meanwhile, Odisha Governor Raghubar Das has resigned, and Mizoram Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati has been appointed to fill the position in Odisha.
The appointments take effect from the dates on which the respective appointees assume office, as stated in the official communication from Rashtrapati Bhavan.
