Former Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla has been appointed as the new Governor of Manipur, replacing Lakshman Prasad Acharya, an official notification stated on Tuesday. This appointment comes at a critical time as the state grapples with a resurgence in ethnic violence that has plagued the region since May 2023.
Ajay Kumar Bhalla, a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the 1984 batch of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, will take over the reins of the violence-stricken state. Bhalla’s vast experience in handling security and internal affairs, having served as the Union Home Secretary from August 2019 until his retirement in August 2024, makes him a key figure in this challenging time for Manipur.Lakshman Prasad Acharya, who was holding additional charge as the Governor of Manipur, will be succeeded by Bhalla in this important role.
Bhalla’s tenure as Home Secretary was marked by his involvement in some of the country’s most sensitive security and administrative matters. His leadership during crucial periods of national security and his long-standing service in the civil services are expected to play a significant role in addressing the ongoing issues in Manipur.
Other Governors appointed across different states
Alongside Bhalla’s appointment, some more new Governors were also announced across India. Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, who has had frequent run-ins with the state government, has been appointed as the Governor of Bihar. His tenure in Kerala was marked by several confrontations with the ruling government, most notably over the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Khan replaces Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who will now assume the position of Governor in Kerala.
In a noteworthy shift, General Dr Vijay Kumar Singh, the former Army Chief, and a prominent political figure, has been appointed as the Governor of Mizoram. This marks the first time that General VK Singh will take on the role of a state Governor after his tenure as a Member of Parliament for Ghaziabad from 2014 to 2024 and his stint as a Union Minister under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet.
Further, Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati, the outgoing Mizoram Governor, is being transferred to Odisha in place of Raghubar Das, whose resignation was accepted by President Droupadi Murmu.
