Kalyan Singh takes over as Himachal Governor

Kalyan Singh was administered oath of office by Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmed Mir at Raj Bhawan.

Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir addministering the oath of office and secrecy to Kalyan Singh as acting Governor of Himachal Pradesh at Raj Bhawan, Shimla on Wednesday. (Source: Express photo by Lalit Kumar)

Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh Wednesday took over the additional charge of Himachal Pradesh here at Raj Bhawan replacing Urmila Singh, whose five year term ended on January 24.

She relinquished the charge on Monday this week after presiding over the Republic Day function and customary ‘At Home’ ceremony at the Raj Bhawan.

Kalyan Singh was administered oath of office by Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmed Mir at a simple but impressive ceremony at the Raj Bhawan.

After taking oath, Kalyan Singh said that he was overwhelmed after being deputed to Himachal Pradesh and will try his best to serve the state within the purview of the constitutional duties he had to perform.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh shakes hands with former Chief Minister and leader of opposition Prem Kumar Dhumal during the oath ceremony of Kalyan Singh Governor at Raj Bhawan in Shimla on Wednesday. (Source: Express photo by Lalit Kumar)

“For me Himachal is a truly a dev bhumi and I have been here even before. Hills have always fascinated me . I have some psychological affinity with the state as having twice rule UP before formation of the Uttrakhand ,” he said.

Kalyan Singh recalled his old friendship with former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and said incumbent chief minister is also a well known leader. He met both the leaders later separately over tea.

Born on January 5, 1932, at Madholi village in Aligarh district of Uttar Pradesh, Kalyan Singh was elected as member of Uttar Pradesh Assembly six times consecutively from 1967 and also served as chief minister on two occasions.

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He became health minister of Uttar Pradesh in 1977 and also remained Member of Parliament from 2004 to 2014. He also served as BJP state president and remained national vice president of BJP for two terms.

After Narendra Modi, became Prime Minister to head the NDA government , he was appointed Governor of Rajasthan and assumed his office on September 4, 2014.