Senior BJP leader and former Jammu & Kashmir Deputy CM Kavinder Gupta was sworn in today as the third Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Ladakh, four days after President Droupadi Murmu accepted the resignation of Brig. (Retd) B. D. Mishra and appointed him to the role.
Administered the oath by Justice Arun Palli at the Raj Niwas in Leh, the ceremony was attended by senior officials from Leh and Kargil, including council CEOs, the Chief Secretary, and the DGP
Following the ceremony, Gupta committed to strive "above religion, caste, and party lines" to remove what he saw as previous discrimination against Ladakh. He promised to elevate the region to the status of a top global tourism destination, comparable to the world's best-known scenic locations. He pledged to treat both Leh's Buddhist community and Kargil's Shia Muslim population fairly.
Gupta has a significant political heritage to the post. Born in December 1959, he began his public life with the RSS at 13 and was jailed during the Emergency. He served as Jammu’s mayor thrice (2005–10), became the first BJP Speaker of the J&K Assembly in 2015, and briefly held the post of Deputy CM in 2018
His appointment comes at a crucial time—Ladakhi leaders are intensifying their demands for Sixth Schedule status, full legislative statehood, and separate Lok Sabha constituencies for Leh and Kargil. Gupta is expected to play an important role in the next meetings with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Gupta emphasized tourism as a strategic priority in order to link Ladakh with the most popular destinations in the world. Gupta highlighted tourism as a strategic objective. "Ladakh deserves respect, growth, and a voice—I'm here to serve, not to govern," he said, reaffirming his determination to address previous neglect.
The appointment of Kavinder Gupta puts an experienced politician in Ladakh's top administrative position amid strategic discussions and aspirations for independence. His pledges of harmony, equitable representation, and tourism-driven growth will be crucial to the Union Territory's future.
