Patna: Arif Mohammad Khan has been sworn in as the 42nd Governor of Bihar. The oath of office was administered by Chief Justice of Patna High Court Krishna Vinod Chandran. The swearing-in ceremony was attended by prominent figures, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, both Deputy Chief Ministers, Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, and several other leaders. Notably, friends of the new Governor, some of whom have known him for 50 years, were also present at the event.
Following the swearing-in, Governor Arif Mohammad Khan addressed the gathering, acknowledging Bihar’s rich history and the immense potential of its people. He stated his commitment to working in accordance with Bihar’s culture and upholding its pride.
When questioned about meeting RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and his son Tejashwi, the Governor responded that he has maintained relationships with these individuals since 1975. He added that since he has arrived in their city, it is his duty to meet them and that not everything should be viewed through a political lens.
Background of the New Governor
Governor Arif Mohammad Khan is originally from Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh. His appointment as Governor of Bihar is seen by some as a strategic move by the BJP, given his history of making prominent public statements. Khan joined the BJP in 2004 after previously being associated with the Congress and the BSP.
The outgoing Governor of Bihar, Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, has been appointed as the Governor of Kerala. With Khan’s appointment, Bihar has its first Muslim Governor in 26 years, following A.R. Kidwai, who served until 1998.
