B D Mishra takes over as Arunachal Governor

GUWAHATI: Arunachal Pradesh finally got a full-time governor after more than a year when B D Mishra swore in as the northeast frontier state's governor on Tuesday.

The northeast frontier state did not have a governor of its own since J P Rajkhowa was sacked in September last year after his controversial role in imposition of President's rule in Arunachal Pradesh.

After Rajkhowa's exit, Meghalaya governor V Shanmuganathan was given additional charge of Arunachal. However, Shanmuganathan relinquished his post following allegations of molestation.

In January this year, Nagaland governor Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya was given additional charge of Arunachal Pradesh. Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court Ajit Singh administered the oath of office to Mishra, a retired brigadier.

Other northeastern states Assam and Meghalaya, too, have got new governors -Jagdish Mukhi and Ganga Prasad, respectively.

Prasad will swear in as the governor of Meghalaya on October 5.

Mukhi has replaced Banwarilal Purohit who has been sent to Tamil Nadu as governor.

Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Ripun Bora protested the replacement of Purohit who took over as the Assam governor in August 2016.“The Centre must have allowed the present governor of Assam to complete his term,“ the Congress leader said. “Governors should not be transferred or shifted like a bureaucrat. There is recommendation of the Sarkaria commission and the government must follow the same.“