Ram Nath Kovind, Acharya Dev Vrat appointed as Bihar and Himachal Pradesh governors

NEW DELHI: Senior BJP leader Ram Nath Kovind and Acharya Dev Vrat were today appointed as Governors of poll-bound Bihar and Himachal Pradesh respectively.

69-year-old Kovind, who had been a two-time Rajya Sabha member between 1994 and 2006, hails from Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh.

His appointment comes barely few months ahead of the Assembly elections due in Bihar. West Bengal Governor Keshri Nath Tripathi was holding additional charge of Bihar.

A lawyer by profession, Kovind had also been BJP Scheduled Caste Morcha chief.

"The President has been pleased to appoint Ram Nath Kovind as the Governor of Bihar and Acharya Dev Vrat as the Governor of Himachal Pradesh," a press release issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan said.

The appointments will take effect from the dates the incumbents assume charge of their respective offices, it said.

Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh was holding the additional charge of Himachal Pradesh.