Former Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla was appointed Governor of Manipur on Tuesday, according to the official notification of Rashtrapati Bhavan. Bhalla's appointment comes at a time when more than 250 people have lost their lives in ethnic clashes since May 3, 2023.
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, who was at loggerheads with Pinarayi Vijayan government over several issues, has been given the responsibility of Bihar. Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar will take over as the new Governor of Kerala.
According to the official order, former Army chief Vijay Kumar Singh was appointed as Mizoram's new Governor.
President Droupadi Murmu accepted the resignation letter of Odisha Governor Raghubar Das amid the appointment of current Mizoram Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati as the new Governor of Odisha.
Ajay Bhalla Appointed As Manipur Governor
Bhalla, who originally hails from Jalandhar in Punjab, is a retired IAS officer of the 1984 batch of Assam-Meghalaya cadre. He served as Home Secretary of India for around five years till August 2024.
His appointment as the new Governor comes at a crucial time when Manipur is reeling under a resurgence in ethnic violence that has rocked the state since May 2023.
According to sources, Bhalla is considered to be one of the most trusted men of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and also enjoys the confidence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Notably, he also handled the Manipur crisis in the initial months as Home Secretary.
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