Governors appointed for Assam, Tripura and Gujarat

Former Orissa chief minister Janaki Ballabh Patnaik was today appointed as the governor of Assam while Tripura governor Kamla has been transferred to Gujarat for remaining period of her term.

Educationists from Maharashtra DY Patil was appointed as the governor of Tripura in place of Kamla, a Rashtrapati Bhavan communique said.

Patnaik will take charge from Syed Sibtey Razi whose term comes to an end on December 9.

The appointments will take effect from the dates they assume charge of their respective offices, the communique said.

Patnaik, 82, is becoming the governor for the first time and the Congress leadership was pressing him hard for long to accept a gubernatorial assignment.

While the terms of several governors, including SF Rodrigues in Punjab, are over, today's decision only covers three states.

Patnaik was not given ticket in the assembly elections held earlier this year in Orissa with a section in the party pleading that he be settled in Raj Bhavan to help revive the organisation in the state where the BJD is in power for a decade.

Kamala, a former deputy chief minister of Rajasthan, was appointed Tripura governor earlier this year.