Arif Mohammad Khan Sworn in as Bihar’s 42nd Governor
On Thursday, Arif Mohammad Khan took the oath as the 42nd Governor of Bihar. He succeeded Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who was reassigned to Kerala.
Oath Ceremony
Patna High Court Chief Justice K Vinod Chandran administered the oath at the Raj Bhavan in the presence of key dignitaries. Among them were Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, Assembly Speaker Anand Kishor Yadav, Legislative Council Chairman Avadhesh Kumar Singh, and Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav.
Khan’s Background
Khan, a former Union minister with experience in portfolios like energy and civil aviation, has served in Bihar’s cabinet before. He arrived in Patna on December 30 and quickly immersed himself in state affairs. On December 31, he met Chief Minister Kumar at the Raj Bhavan. He also visited Kalyan Bigha to pay tribute to Kumar’s late mother.
Political Journey
Khan’s political career includes time in the Congress, where he was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1980 from Kanpur. He left Congress in 1986 due to differences over the Muslim Personal Law Bill and joined several parties, including Janata Dal, Bahujan Samaj Party, and finally the BJP in 2004.
Key Responsibilities
Khan’s appointment comes ahead of Bihar’s assembly elections, where Muslim voters are crucial in one-third of the seats. As Bihar’s Governor, he will also serve as the Chancellor of state universities. These universities are currently grappling with delayed academic sessions, controversies, and vacant Vice Chancellor positions.
Previous Challenges in Kerala
Before his Bihar appointment, Khan faced significant challenges as Governor of Kerala, particularly over Vice Chancellor appointments. He demanded the resignation of all nine VCs following a Supreme Court ruling against the appointment of a VC at APJ Abdul Kalam University. He also encountered protests related to his support for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and a conflict with the Kerala government over bills curtailing the Governor’s powers as Chancellor. Khan withheld assent to two of the bills, sending them to the President, but approved one.
Khan’s tenure as Bihar’s Governor will likely play a pivotal role in addressing educational and political challenges, especially with the upcoming assembly elections.
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