Former Goa assembly speaker and a member of the founding team of the state Bharatiya Janata Party, Rajendra Arlekar, has been appointed the governor of Himachal Pradesh, becoming the first Goan to occupy the constitutional post.
Rajendra Arlekar was with the RSS before he moved to the Bharatiya Janata Party. (Courtesy- Twitter)
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
Arlekar was with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) before he moved to the BJP and he was one of the contenders for the Goa chief minister’s post after late Manohar Parrikar moved to Delhi as Union defence minister, but the party ultimately opted for Laxmikant Parsekar.
In the 2017 assembly polls, Arlekar was defeated by Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party candidate Manohar Ajgaonkar, who has since joined the BJP and is currently deputy chief minister to Pramod Sawant.
“Hearty congratulations to our senior leader, ex-speaker of Goa assembly & ex-minister of Goa government, Rajendra Arlekar ji on being appointed the governor of Himachal Pradesh. It’s a proud moment for all Goans as Arlekar ji is the first Goan to be appointed to this position,” Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant tweeted soon after the news of his elevation emerged. Arlekar’s appointment is part of the Tuesday reshuffle involving eight gubernatorial positions.
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
{{^usCountry}}
Among other things, the two time MLA is remembered for making the Goa assembly paperless and his calm demeanour in running the house.
{{/usCountry}}
{{#usCountry}}
Among other things, the two time MLA is remembered for making the Goa assembly paperless and his calm demeanour in running the house.
Gerard de Souza is a Special Correspondent based in Goa and has been reporting on and about issues concerning the state and the wider western coast of India for over 18 years. His wide range of stories covers politics, crime, environment and tourism-related concerns emerging from India’s smallest state. Born and brought up in Goa, he has a deep understanding of the former Portuguese enclave’s evolution from a laidback collection of idyllic villages that first drew flower power generation of counter culture enthusiasts to its shores to one that has become synonymous in Indian popular culture with an aspirational holiday, seeing the best (and worst) that holidayers have to offer. He also keenly follows criminal trials. Most notably, he covered the trial surrounding the killing of Scarlett Keeling, a British teenager found dead on Anjuna beach, and that of Danielle McLaughlin similarly killed in south Goa, among others. He authored the book ‘Crimes of Passion: When Desire Turns Deadly,’ chronicling cases of romance turning to rage and murder. A graduate of Goa University, he learnt the trade on the job and has experience on both the reporting and editorial sides of the profession. When not sniffing around for a worthy headline, he likes to spend time outdoors to help ensure his heart is always in the right place.
Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather major national developments and Karnataka Bandh LIVE.
Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather major national developments and Karnataka Bandh LIVE.
