Arif Mohammad Khan was sworn in as the 42nd Governor of Bihar on Thursday at a ceremony held at Rajendra Mandapam in Raj Bhavan. Patna High Court Chief Justice Krishnan Vinod Chandran administered the oath of office and secrecy.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, and other senior officials attended the event. Khan succeeds Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, bringing with him a wealth of political experience, including his recent tenure as Kerala Governor.
Before the swearing-in, Khan paid homage to former President Rajendra Prasad at his memorial in Patna. Speaking to the media upon his arrival in the state on Monday, Khan expressed his commitment to fulfilling his duties in line with Bihar’s “glorious traditions.”
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Khan’s appointment marks a significant moment, as he becomes only the second individual from the minority community to hold the Governor’s post in Bihar. The first was AR Kidwai, who served from 1993 to 1998.
Known for his diverse political career, Khan has been associated with multiple parties, including the Janata Party, Lok Dal, Bahujan Samaj Party, Congress, and BJP. He also served as a Union Minister alongside Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Khan gained national prominence when he resigned from the Congress in protest against its stance on the Shah Bano case.
The swearing-in follows President Droupadi Murmu’s December 24 announcement of governors for five states. Among them, Vijay Kumar Singh was appointed Mizoram Governor, Hari Babu Kambhampati as Odisha Governor, Ajay Kumar Bhalla as Manipur Governor, and Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar as Kerala Governor.
Khan’s tenure as Kerala Governor was marked by public disagreements with the state government, particularly over its efforts to influence university governance. His refusal to sign key ordinances and bills eventually led to the Supreme Court’s intervention.
With his new role, Khan’s leadership will likely add a dynamic dimension to Bihar’s political and administrative landscape.