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As India Legal predicted, NN Vohra steps down as J&K Governor, political appointee Malik replaces him

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8 years ago

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As India Legal predicted, NN Vohra steps down as J&K Governor, political appointee Malik replaces him

As predicted in Durbar column of the August 13 issue of India Legal, a publication of the same media group as APN Live, J&K Governor NN Vohra, one of the most able administrators the state has seen and who had expressed his desire to step down, is retiring.

Vohra has been the J&K Governor since 2008. The Centre on Tuesday announced that a political appointee, Satya Pal Malik, now governor of Bihar, will take his place. The appointment of a political person to the post comes after a good five decades: since 1967, the Centre has chosen retired civil servants, diplomats, police officers and Army generals for the post of governor of J&K.

Karan Singh was the last governor of J&K with a political background. He served from 1965 to 1967.

Vohra’s second six-year term, the same as State Assembly’s term of six years, ended on June 25. He continued in office after the BJP pulled out of the ruling coalition with the PDP and the State was placed under Governor’s rule on June 20. The Centre needed an experienced administrator given the situation in the State and the ongoing Amarnath Yatra that concludes on August 28.

The appointment of a person from a socialist background and not from the uniformed forces or from the saffron fraternity, as was being speculated earlier, indicates the Centre’s openness to dialogue and engagement with diverse people and organisations in the State, currently under Governor’s rule.

Malik, who was active as a politician in the times of former Prime Ministers Charan Singh and VP Singh will be landing on the hot seat at a time when the state is in turmoil. At a time when the governor’s role is most crucial in J&K, it is believed that Malik’s immense experience in tackling disparate groups will come in handy for the government. Malik has worked with Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, former chief minister of the state, during the time of VP Singh, and, as he has said in an interview, ““It is a challenging job. The basic challenge is to win the confidence of the people of the state.”

Malik started out as a student leader in Meerut. In 1974 he joined Charan Singh’s Lok Dal and was elected an MLA to the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. He was later elected twice to Rajya Sabha — in 1980 as a Lok Dal candidate and in 1986 from the Congress.

He was disqualified from Rajya Sabha as he started attending meetings of the rebel Congress leader VP Singh’s Jan Morcha. In 1990 he became the Union Minister of State, Parliamentary Affairs and Tourism in VP Singh’s cabinet.

In 2004, he joined the BJP and contested – unsuccessfully – the general election against his one-time mentor Charan Singh’s son Ajit Singh from Baghpat.

In other changes, senior BJP leader Lalji Tandon was appointed as Governor of Bihar replacing Malik, and Satyadev Narayan Arya will be the new Governor of Haryana,

Baby Rani Maurya will be the new Governor of Uttarakhand, replacing KK Paul who was appointed by the UPA government. The only UPA era appointee currently is ESL Narsimhan, who holds dual charge as Governor of Telengana and Andhra Pradesh, media reports said.

Kaptan Singh Solanki, the Governor of Haryana, has been transferred to Tripura. Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy has been transferred to Meghalaya. Ganga Prasad, the Governor of Meghalaya, has been transferred to Sikkim.

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Mamata beater Suvendu Adhikari set to become next West Bengal CM

Suvendu Adhikari emerged as the BJP’s choice for West Bengal Chief Minister after the party’s legislature meeting in Kolkata following its historic Assembly election victory.

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14 hours ago

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May 8, 2026

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Suvendu-Adhikari

Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari is set to become the next Chief Minister of West Bengal after being elected leader of the BJP legislature party during a key meeting in Kolkata on Thursday.

The development comes days after the BJP secured a decisive victory in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, ending the Trinamool Congress’ long rule in the state. Party leaders met in the presence of senior central leadership to finalise the chief ministerial face ahead of the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for May 9.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended the legislature party meeting where Adhikari’s name was formally announced. Reports said the BJP leadership backed him after he emerged as the party’s strongest face in Bengal politics over the past few years.

Adhikari played a major role in the BJP’s campaign across the state and remained one of the party’s most aggressive leaders against the ruling Trinamool Congress. He also defeated former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur during the Assembly elections, strengthening his position within the party.

The BJP’s victory is being viewed as a major political shift in West Bengal, where the party is set to form its first government. Adhikari, once a senior Trinamool Congress leader, had joined the BJP before the 2021 Assembly elections and later became Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly.

Following the announcement, celebrations were reported outside Adhikari’s residence in East Midnapore, with party workers distributing sweets and raising slogans in support of the BJP leader.

The swearing-in ceremony of the new BJP government is expected to take place in Kolkata on May 9, where Adhikari will officially assume charge as the Chief Minister of West Bengal.

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Suvendu Adhikari emerges frontrunner for Bengal Chief Minister post

Suvendu Adhikari has emerged as the leading candidate for the West Bengal Chief Minister post as BJP prepares to form its first government in the state. Reports suggest the new cabinet may also include two deputy chief ministers.

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19 hours ago

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May 8, 2026

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BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has emerged as the leading contender for the post of Chief Minister in West Bengal as the party prepares to form its first government in the state following its Assembly election victory.

The BJP legislature party is scheduled to meet in Kolkata to elect its leader, a decision that is expected to formally determine the next Chief Minister. Union Home Minister Amit Shah reached Kolkata ahead of the meeting and is overseeing the selection process.

Sources cited in media reports suggest the new BJP-led government may also appoint two deputy chief ministers, a post that has remained vacant in West Bengal for nearly two decades. One of the deputy CM positions could reportedly go to a woman leader. BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul is among the names being discussed for the role.

Another deputy chief minister could be chosen from north Bengal, with former Union minister Nisith Pramanik being seen as a possible contender, according to reports. There is also speculation that the BJP leadership may consider a representative from the tribal community for a senior cabinet role.

Adhikari, who played a key role in the BJP’s election campaign, defeated Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur during the recently concluded Assembly elections. The BJP secured a two-thirds majority in the 294-member Assembly, paving the way for its first government in West Bengal.

The swearing-in ceremony for the new government is expected to take place on May 9 in Kolkata. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and several senior BJP leaders are expected to attend the event.

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West Bengal BJP government set for oath ceremony as suspense over new CM continues

The BJP is preparing to form its first government in West Bengal after securing a massive Assembly election victory, with the new Chief Minister expected to be chosen during a legislature party meeting in Kolkata.

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23 hours ago

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May 8, 2026

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The Bharatiya Janata Party is preparing to form its first government in West Bengal after its decisive victory in the 2026 Assembly elections. The swearing-in ceremony of the new government is scheduled for May 9 in Kolkata, while suspense continues over the party’s Chief Ministerial choice.

According to reports, the BJP legislature party is expected to meet on Friday in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to elect its leader formally. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and several senior BJP leaders are likely to attend the oath-taking ceremony.

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari has emerged as the frontrunner for the Chief Minister’s post following the BJP’s strong performance in the elections. Other names reportedly under consideration include Samik Bhattacharya, Sukanta Majumdar and Swapan Dasgupta.

The political developments come a day after Governor RN Ravi dissolved the West Bengal Legislative Assembly and state cabinet following the completion of the Assembly election process. The dissolution order was issued under Article 174(2)(b) of the Constitution after outgoing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declined to submit her resignation despite the Trinamool Congress losing power.

The BJP secured a clear majority in the 294-member Assembly, ending the Trinamool Congress’ 15-year rule in the state. The election outcome marks a major political shift in West Bengal, where the BJP is set to form a government for the first time.

Preparations for the swearing-in ceremony are underway at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground, where senior BJP leaders and party supporters are expected to gather for the event.

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