Guwahati, Jul 30 (PTI) Lakshman Prasad Acharya was on Tuesday sworn in as the 32nd governor of Assam.
He succeeded Gulab Chand Kataria, who has been appointed as the governor of Punjab and administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh.
Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court Vijay Bishnoi administered the oath of office to Acharya, with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, other ministers and several dignitaries in attendance.
Acharya, 59, who will also hold additional charge of Manipur, was the governor of Sikkim prior to the new appointment.
A former RSS and BJP member, Acharya was also a part of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council.
Acharya, in a post on X, expressed gratitude to President Droupadi Murmu for his new assignment.
“Today, after taking blessings at the feet of Maa Kamakhya, I took oath as the Governor of Assam, a state blessed with rich culture,” he said.
Stating that it’s a “unique opportunity to serve the country and the state”, Acharya said, “With new resolve and new energy, we will together take the state to greater heights.”
Taking to X, Sarma said: “Attended the swearing-in ceremony of Shri @Laxmanacharya54 ji as the 32nd Governor of Assam. Our government looks forward to his guidance in realising the mission of a Viksit Assam.”
Earlier in the day, the CM and his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma called on outgoing Governor Kataria and his wife at the Raj Bhavan to bid them farewell.
“On behalf of the people of Assam, we expressed our profound gratitude for his outstanding service to the state and wished him for his new gubernatorial role,” Sarma said.
In another post on X, Kataria expressed his fondness for the northeastern state.
“Assam will always be embedded in my heart as a special and beautiful place as I reflect on my tenure as its Governor. On my final day before embarking on my new role as the Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh, I had the pleasure of meeting Chief Minister, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma along with his wife Rinki Bhuyan Sarma,” he said.
“Their association with me during my journey as the Governor of Assam was one of warmth, affection and fellow-feeling,” Kataria said, adding, “I will always fondly remember my sweet days in Assam.”