Manoj Sinha takes oath as Jammu and Kashmir's L-G; career politico succeeds ex-IAS GC Murmu

Former Union minister Manoj Sinha on Friday was sworn in as the new lieutenant governor of Jammu and Kashmir, the first political leader to take charge of the union territory. The 61-year-old, who is known for his connect with people, particularly in rural areas, was administered the oath of office by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Justice Gita Mittal in Raj Bhavan, at the foothills of the Zaberwan range. Sinha succeeds former IAS officer Girish Chandra Murmu, who resigned on Wednesday night and was appointed Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on Thursday. Advisors to the previous lieutenant governors, including Farooq Khan and Baseer Khan, as well as senior bureaucrats and policemen were present at the simple function. Rajya Sabha member Nazir Ahmed Laway, BJP Lok Sabha member Jugal Kishore Sharma and Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party leaders Ghulam Hasan Mir were also present. After his appointment was announced, Sinha quit his BJP membership in line with the decorum of his constitutional position, and party president JP Nadda accepted his resignation while heaping praise on him for his work to strengthen the saffron organisation. “A gentle, erudite and experienced leader with loads of administrative experience as a minister to head Jammu and Kashmir administration. Jammu and Kashmir to progress on the path of development with renewed vigour,” BJP general secretary Ram Madhav tweeted after Sinha’s appointment was announced.