Amid speculations on the formation of a new government after the Amarnath yatra, newly appointed Governor took charge in the strife-torn Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday.
Satya Pal Malik was sworn-in as the 13th Governor of the restive state. J&K High Court Chief Justice Gita Mittal administered the oath of office to Malik at a low-key ceremony arranged at Raj Bhavan in Srinagar.
Malik replaced career bureaucrat NN Vohra who successfully completed two terms as the governor of Jammu and Kashmir. Vohra was appointed the governor in 2008 and 2014. His term ended in June, but it was extended keeping in mind the Amarnath yatra.
Five days before the annual Amarnath yatra draws to a close, President Ram Nath Kovind shifted Bihar Governor Satya Pal Malik and appointed him the new Jammu and Kashmir governor.
Born on July 24, 1946, in Hisawada, (Meerut) in Uttar Pradesh, Malik, after graduating in science, pursued a law degree at Meerut University before joining politics. He also holds a diploma in parliamentary affairs from the Institute of Constitutional and Parliamentary Studies.
He was a member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly between 1974-77. He was also a member of the 9th Lok Sabha and represented Aligarh Constituency from 1989 to 1991. He was a Rajya Sabha member from Uttar Pradesh for two terms —1980-86 and 1986-1992.
Malik served as Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Tourism from April 21, 1990 to November 10, 1990. Malik has been a member of several parliamentary committees. A poet and an author, he has written two books on poetry, along with a political commentary.
The new Governor took charge at a time when hectic backroom efforts are on to form a government in the state. Insiders said BJP is exploring the option of getting the first Hindu chief minister. There are also reports that People's Conference leader Sajad Lone may become the deputy chief minister.
Sources also said that a PDP rebel may also become the deputy chief minister to make the government inclusive. Five PDP MLAs and two MLCs have openly revolted against the leadership of Mehbooba Mufti.
A political formation requires 44 members for a simple majority to form the government in the 87 member House. PDP is the single largest party with 28 members followed by BJP with 25 MLAs. National Conference has 15 and Congress 12 members in the House. People's Conference has two MLAs while CPIM and PDF has one member each. Rest are independents.
