Ajay Kumar Bhalla, former Union home secretary, has been appointed as the new governor of Manipur. The announcement was made by Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday. Bhalla, a 1984-batch IAS officer from the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, succeeds Laxman Prasad Acharya, who had been holding additional charge of the violence-stricken state.
Bhalla’s Legacy in Bureaucracy
Ajay Kumar Bhalla served as Union home secretary from August 2019 to August 2024, holding the post longer than any predecessor. His tenure, marked by handling crucial internal security challenges, is considered one of the most significant in the nation’s bureaucratic history. Bhalla was succeeded as home secretary by IAS officer Govind Mohan.
Other Key Gubernatorial Appointments
The reshuffling also saw former Army chief and ex-Union minister General Vijay Kumar Singh (retd) appointed as the new governor of Mizoram. Singh, who chose not to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections after serving as Ghaziabad MP for a decade, will now take on the gubernatorial role in the northeastern state.
In other changes, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has been appointed as Bihar governor, while Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar will now assume the governorship of Kerala. Arif Mohammed Khan, appointed Kerala governor in 2019, is known for his progressive stance on banning instant triple talaq and his controversial exit from Rajiv Gandhi’s cabinet over the Shah Bano case.
Additionally, Mizoram Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati has been appointed as Odisha governor, reflecting broader leadership restructuring across key states.
These appointments signal a strategic realignment aimed at strengthening governance and addressing regional challenges effectively.
