Manoj Sinha is new L-G in J&K change of guard

SRINAGAR/JAMMU: Former Union minister Manoj Sinha, the newly appointed lieutenant governor (L-G) of Jammu & Kashmir, hit the ground running on Thursday, receiving a briefing on the situation in the Union Territory soon after reaching Srinagar.

Sinha, 61, a three-time Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) parliamentarian, is expected to take his oath of office on Friday on the lawns of Raj Bhavan in the city. He is the second L-G of the Union Territory (UT), which was formed last year after the bifurcation of the erstwhile state of J&K.

The appointment of a political personality at the helm of the UT is being seen as an indication of the Centre’s will to initiate the political process in J&K, according to a person aware of the details.

Sinha takes over from Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Girish Chandra Murmu, who resigned on August 5, exactly a year after the government announced the nullification of Article 370 — which conferred special status on Jammu & Kashmir — and bifurcated the state into two UTs — J&K with a legislative assembly and Ladakh without one — on August 5, 2019.

Murmu has been appointed the Comptroller and Auditor General of India “with effect from the date he assumes charge of his office”, the government said on Thursday night.

In Srinagar, chief secretary BVR Subrahmanyam and director general of police Dilbagh Singh welcomed Sinha at the airport, where he landed around 3pm and received a guard of honour.

ANI