Ajay Kumar Bhalla appointed Manipur Governor amid ethnic violence resurgence; swap in Bihar and Kerala

PTC Web Desk: Former Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla has been appointed as the Governor of Manipur, according to an official notification issued on Tuesday. Bhalla steps into the role during a challenging period for Manipur, which has been grappling with a resurgence of ethnic violence that began in May 2023.

Bhalla replaces Lakashman Prasad Acharya, who assumed office as Manipur Governor on July 31, 2024. A retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1984 Assam-Meghalaya cadre, Bhalla served as India’s Home Secretary for nearly five years until his retirement in August 2024. Originally from Jalandhar, Punjab, Bhalla’s extensive administrative experience is expected to play a crucial role in addressing the ongoing crisis in the state.

In a series of gubernatorial appointments, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan has been reassigned as the Governor of Bihar. Khan, known for his frequent clashes with the Kerala state government on various issues, will succeed Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. Arlekar, in turn, has been appointed as the new Governor of Kerala.

Additionally, President Droupadi Murmu accepted the resignation of Raghubar Das as the Governor of Odisha. Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati, who was previously the Governor of Mizoram, has been appointed to replace Das in Odisha.

The Mizoram Governorship will now be held by former Army Chief, General Dr Vijay Kumar Singh. This marks General VK Singh’s first gubernatorial role. A distinguished former MP from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, he served in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Cabinet as a Union minister between 2014 and 2024. His appointment as Mizoram Governor is seen as a strategic move to bring his leadership expertise to the state.

The appointments, approved by President Murmu, will take effect once the Governors assume charge of their respective offices.