Imphal: Ajay Kumar Bhalla was sworn in as the 17th Governor of Manipur on Friday during a ceremony at the Darbar Hall of Raj Bhavan, Imphal. The oath of office was administered by Justice D. Krishnakumar, Chief Justice of the High Court of Manipur.
The event was attended by Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker Th. Satyabrata Singh, Ministers, former Chief Ministers O. Ibobi Singh and Radhabinod Koijam, MLAs, and senior officials, including the Chief Secretary, Security Advisor, and DGP. Senior civil, military, and police officers were also present.
Following the oath, Governor Bhalla received the Rashtriya Salute and inspected the Guard of Honour presented by personnel from the Manipur Rifles and the India Reserve Battalion.
Ajay Kumar Bhalla, a retired IAS officer of the 1984 Assam-Meghalaya cadre, who hails from Punjab, previously served as Union Home Secretary from August 2019 to August 2024 and held key roles, including Secretary in the Ministry of Power and Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Coal.
Speaking on the sidelines of the ceremony, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh expressed optimism about Bhalla’s appointment, citing it as a testament to the Central Government’s commitment to addressing the challenges in Manipur.
“Appointing such an intelligent and competent individual as Governor during these challenging times reflects the Central Government’s serious concern for Manipur’s issues. The people of Manipur highly value this decision and expect significant progress under his leadership, particularly in restoring peace. The conflict is complex and cannot be resolved overnight, but we must trust the Central Government’s efforts,” Singh stated.
Bhalla’s vast experience in public administration is expected to play a critical role in fostering stability and addressing the state’s pressing issues.
Lakshman Prasad Acharya was made the governor in charge of Manipur in July 2024 after the former governor, Uyikey. With agency inputs
