Devvrat 15th Guv to leave before term completion

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 15

Senior BJP leader and former minister Kalraj Mishra has been appointed as the new Governor, while incumbent Acharya Devvrat has been transferred to Gujarat.

The term of Devvrat, who assumed office on August 12, 2015, ends on August 12, 2020. Born on July 1, 1941, Mishra is a veteran politician and held several posts in the organisation.

He also remained the in-charge of organisational affairs for Himachal for two years and was elected to Lok Sabha from the Deoria constituency in Uttar Pradesh in 2014 and elected to Rajya Sabha thrice in 1978, 2001 and 2006. He was a Cabinet Minister in the Uttar Pradesh Government from March 1997 to August 2000, holding the portfolios of Public Works, Medical Education and Tourism. Acharya, who occupied the centre stage with his zero-budget natural farming, has been shifted to the home state of Modi.

Out of the 18 regular Governors, who adorned the Raj Bhawan since January 25,1971, when Himachal was granted statehood, 15 did not complete their term and were either shifted, removed or resigned. Devvrat is the 15th Governor to leave the Raj Bhawan before the completion of his term.

First Governor S Chakravarti, who held office from January 25, 1971, to February 16,1977, Justice Vishnu Sadashiv Kokje (retd) from May 8, 2003 to July 19, 2008 and Urmila Singh from January 25, 2010, to January 24, 2015, completed their term.