Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 2 (UNI) Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar was sworn in as the new Governor of Kerala in a special function held at Raj Bhavan at 10.30 hrs here on Thursday.

Kerala High Court Chief Justice Nitin Madhukar Jamdar administered the oath to the Governor who took the oath in the name of God, and became the 23rd Governor of the State.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Assembly Speaker AN Shamseer, Opposition leader VD Satheesan, Senior Congress leader and AICC Working Committee Member Ramesh Chennithala, Ministers, MPs, MLAs, Chief Secretary, senior IAS and IPS officials, defence officials, senior BJP and RSS leaders have also attended the function.

On Wednesday evening, Rajendra Arlekar, accompanied by wife Anagha Arlekar, arrived at the Airport where he was given a warm reception by the Chief Minister and his cabinet colleagues.

After the swearing in ceremony, a tea reception was arranged at the Raj Bhavan. Rajendra Arlekar replaced Arif Mohammed Khan who was sworn in as Governor of Bihar.

Rajendra Arlekar, a cabinet minister in the Government of Goa and a former speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly, has been associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh since his childhood.

He held various positions which include Chairman, Goa Industrial Development Corporation, Chairman, Goa State Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes Financial Development Corporation, BJP President of South Goa.

In 2021, he was appointed as Governor of Himachal Pradesh and later became the Governor of Bihar.

UNI DS KK