Following the resignation and reassignment of R. N. Ravi as Governor of Tamil Nadu and his appointment as the Governor of West Bengal, Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, the Governor of Kerala, has been directed to discharge the functions of the Governor of Tamil Nadu until further arrangements are made.
Who Is Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar?
Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar was born on April 23, 1954, in Panaji in the coastal state of Goa. He has been associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for several decades and is considered a long-time organisational leader within the party in Goa.
Arlekar began his political career through grassroots organisational work and student activism. During his early years, he was associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and later became active in the BJP’s state unit in Goa. Over time, he emerged as a prominent political figure in the state.
Career in the Goa Legislative Assembly
Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar served as a two-time member of the Goa Legislative Assembly. He was first elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the Vasco constituency in 2002.
He was elected for a second term in 2012 from the Pernem constituency. During his second tenure in the Assembly, Arlekar served as the Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly. He also held positions in the Goa government as a Cabinet Minister, handling portfolios such as Forest, Environment, and Panchayat.
Role as Governor
In July 2021, Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar was appointed as the Governor of Himachal Pradesh by the President of India. In February 2023, he was appointed as the 28th Governor of Bihar. Later, in January 2025, he assumed office as the Governor of Kerala, succeeding Arif Mohammad Khan.
Following the reassignment of R. N. Ravi, Arlekar has now been entrusted with the additional responsibility of discharging the functions of the Governor of Tamil Nadu. Such interim arrangements are commonly made when there is a vacancy or transition in the office of a Governor.
As the acting authority at the Tamil Nadu Raj Bhavan, Arlekar will carry out constitutional responsibilities related to the functioning of the state government until a permanent Governor for Tamil Nadu is appointed by the President of India.
– Magizh
