CM pins hopes on new Governor to end crisis
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR
Imphal, January 03 2025:
Ajay Kumar Bhalla has been sworn in as the 17th Governor of Manipur on Friday with the former Union Home secretary administered the oath of office by Chief Justice of High Court of Manipur Justice D Krishna Kumar during the swearing-in ceremony held at Darbar Hall of Raj Bhavan here.
After taking the oath, Governor Ajay Bhalla received the Rashtriya Salute and inspected the Guard of Honour accorded by personnel of Manipur Rifles and India Reserve Battalion.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh, speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly Th Satyabrata Singh, ministers, former CMs O Ibobi Singh and Radhabinod Koijam, MLAs, chief secretary, security advisor, DGP and senior civil, military and police officers attended the oath taking ceremony.
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Speaking to newspersons on the sidelines of the ceremony, the CM conveyed the people's and the state government's firm belief that the new Governor, with his years of administrative experience and knowledge of the northeast region, would be able to help resolve the almost two-year long crisis in the state.
His appointment is lucky for the state, he said.
Ajay Kumar Bhalla assumed the charge of the office of the Governor of Manipur with effect from the forenoon of January 3.He is a 1984 batch IAS officer and served as the union home secretary from August, 2019 till August 22, 2024.Speaking on Bhalla's swearing in as the Governor, CM Biren said, "He is a dynamic person who knows the ground reality and the situation of the state very well.
He is a very committed person.
I wholeheartedly welcome him.
With his appointment as the governor of the state, I believe that normalcy and peace will be restored at the earliest".
The former union home secretary took oath as the governor at a time when strife-torn Manipur has been witnessing periodic ethnic clashes between Meeteis and Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023."Appointing one of the intelligent and competent persons as the governor of the state during these trying times shows that the central government is serious about solving the problems of Manipur," Biren said.
Bhalla, who has the rare distinction of being the longest-serving union home secretary, completed his five-year tenure in August last year.
He is a 1984-batch retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre.
President Droupadi Murmu appointed Bhalla the governor of Manipur last month.
"I know Bhalla ji.
He is a well-experienced person and held many important posts.
He held posts in the home department.
We appreciate his appointment as the governor of Manipur.
I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for Bhalla's appointment," the chief minister said.
Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya was holding the additional charge of Manipur.
During his tenure as Home Secretary, Bhalla managed several critical national challenges and complex issues.
He oversaw the implementation of changes following the scrapping of Article 370 in 2019 from Jammu and Kashmir, managing the government's response to the nationwide protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), and leading the country's fight against the COVID 19 pandemic.
Before his role as Union Home Secretary, Bhalla held various key positions in the government.