New Delhi: Two poll-bound states of Punjab and Uttarakhand in the north of India would get new governors.
President Ram Nath Kovind has accepted the resignation of Smt. Baby Rani Maurya as Governor of Uttarakhand.
According to a Rashtrapati Bhavan communique on Thursday night, Lt. Gen. Gurmit Singh has been appointed as the new governor of Uttarakhand.
The President has also appointed Banwarilal Purohit, Governor of Tamil Nadu, holding additional charge of the Governor of Punjab, as the regular Governor of Punjab.
Both Punjab and Uttarakhand would go to the polls along with UP, Manipur and Goa by February-March 2022.
In a major move, R. N. Ravi, Governor of Nagaland, has been appointed as the Governor of Tamil Nadu. Ravi was also an interlocutor for Naga peace talks, and lately, some problems had surfaced between him and the NSCN (IM). It is still not clear whether he would continue as the negotiator for the peace parleys. Ravi has also been vocal against 'extortion' culture in the state and has used strong words against the militants.
Prof Jagdish Mukhi, Governor of Assam, has been given the additional charge of Nagaland "until regular arrangements are made," the communique said.
All these appointments will take effect from the dates they assume charge of their respective offices, the statement from Rashtrapati Bhavan said.
The government's decision to appoint a political man as Governor of Nagaland – albeit with additional charge – could also be crucial in its own way as all efforts are on to finalise a peace deal with the Naga rebel groups.
