Former Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla has been appointed as the new Governor of Manipur, according to an official notification issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday. Bhalla’s appointment comes during a critical time for the state, which has been grappling with ethnic violence since May 2023.

The clashes, primarily between the predominantly Hindu Meitei majority and the mainly Christian Kuki community, have caused widespread unrest in Manipur over the past year. Bhalla’s extensive administrative experience as Union Home Secretary is expected to aid in addressing the ongoing crisis.

Succeeds Lakshman Prasad Acharya

Ajay Kumar Bhalla will take over from Lakshman Prasad Acharya, who assumed the office of Governor of Manipur on July 31, 2023. Acharya’s tenure was marked by heightened ethnic tensions in the state, which have posed significant governance challenges.

Other Governor Appointments

In other gubernatorial changes, former Army Chief General Vijay Kumar Singh has been appointed as the new Governor of Mizoram. Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has been assigned the role of Bihar Governor, while Hari Babu Kambhampati, the former Governor of Mizoram, has been appointed as the new Governor of Odisha. These changes are part of a broader reshuffling of key positions in the Indian government.