President Droupadi Murmu Appoints New Governors and Lieutenant Governor

TPP
Jul 14
3 min read

On Monday, July 14, 2025, President Droupadi Murmu made a series of key appointments, naming new Governors for Haryana and Goa, and a new Lieutenant Governor (LG) for Ladakh. These changes come at a significant political juncture, especially amid rising demands in Ladakh for statehood and constitutional safeguards, spearheaded by the Ladakh Apex Body, a collective of political, religious, and civil society groups from the region.

Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh: Kavinder Gupta Appointed

President Murmu accepted the resignation of Brigadier (Dr.) B.D. Mishra (Retd.), who had been serving as the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh since February 2023, and appointed senior BJP leader Kavinder Gupta in his place. The appointment is especially notable in light of the renewed agitation announced by the Ladakh Apex Body, which has intensified its push for special constitutional status for the Union Territory.

Kavinder Gupta, who will now oversee administration in Ladakh, is a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader from Jammu and Kashmir. He previously served as the Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir during the coalition government led by Mehbooba Mufti, former Chief Minister from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). His experience in handling sensitive political environments is expected to play a role in navigating the growing unrest in Ladakh.

Brig. (Dr.) B.D. Mishra (Retd.): A Veteran Officer and Public Servant

Brigadier (Retired) B.D. Mishra is a decorated former Indian Army officer, best known for his role as Commander of the Counter Hijack Force under the National Security Guard (NSG), also popularly called the Black Cat Commandos. He retired on 31 July 1995 after more than 33 years of military service. Later, he transitioned to public life and was appointed as the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh on 3 October 2017.

At the age of 85, Mishra was appointed as the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh in February 2023, following the resignation of R.K. Mathur, the first LG of Ladakh who had held office from 31 October 2019 to 11 February 2023. Mishra's tenure in Ladakh marked his second gubernatorial role, further cementing his legacy in public administration.

New Governors Appointed for Haryana and Goa

In addition to the change in Ladakh, President Murmu also appointed two new state Governors. Professor Ashim Kumar Ghosh was named the Governor of Haryana, while Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju was appointed as the Governor of Goa.

Ashim Kumar Ghosh is a seasoned academic and administrator, although further details on his background are awaited. Meanwhile, Ashok Gajapathi Raju is a former Union Minister for Civil Aviation and a veteran political figure from Andhra Pradesh, known for his tenure in the Narendra Modi-led government from 2014 to 2018.

The Rashtrapati Bhavan stated that all these appointments will come into effect from the dates the appointees assume charge of their respective offices.

Rajya Sabha Nominations: Distinguished Figures Honoured

In a separate but notable development a day earlier, President Murmu also nominated four eminent personalities to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of India’s Parliament, under Article 80 of the Constitution, which empowers the President to nominate individuals with special knowledge or practical experience in literature, science, art, and social service.

The newly nominated members are:

Harsh Vardhan Shringla: A former Foreign Secretary of India, he is a distinguished diplomat who also served as India's Ambassador to the U.S. and Bangladesh. His tenure as Foreign Secretary (from January 2020 to April 2022) saw key foreign policy engagements during the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical shifts.
Ujjwal Deorao Nikam: A prominent public prosecutor, he is renowned for handling high-profile criminal cases such as the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack trial of Ajmal Kasab and the 1993 Bombay blasts case. Nikam has earned public respect for his legal acumen and relentless pursuit of justice.
C. Sadanandan Master: A veteran social worker and educationist from Kerala, he has dedicated decades to grassroots service, particularly in the field of education and rural development.
Meenakshi Jain: A noted historian and academic, known for her deep scholarship in Indian history and civilisation. Her writings often focus on cultural and civilisational continuity in India, making her a key voice in contemporary historical discourse.