In a formal ceremony at the Haryana Raj Bhavan today, Professor Asim Kumar Ghosh took the oath as the 19th Governor of Haryana, succeeding Bandaru Dattatreya. The event began at 1 PM and was attended by Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, senior state ministers, MLAs, and senior officials. The new governor has administered the oath of office by the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s Chief Justice Sheel Nagu.
Appointed by President Droupadi Murmu on July 14, Prof. Ghosh officially assumed office upon taking his oath today. Born in 1944 in Howrah, West Bengal, he is an accomplished academic—a former political science professor at Shri Shikshayatan College, Kolkata. He entered politics in 1991 and rose through the ranks of the BJP, serving as state secretary (1996), vice-president (1998), and state president of BJP West Bengal (1999–2002).
Ghosh was appointed as the West Bengal BJP president in 1999 after Union Minister Tapan Sikdar stepped down. During his tenure, which lasted until 2002, the BJP did not become a dominant force in Bengal politics, but sources credit Ghosh with laying the foundation for the party’s future strength in the region. He focused on building organisational structure and grassroots cadre—an effort that bore fruit years later as the BJP gradually gained ground in the state.
His political acumen was evident in the 2000 elections, where he narrowly defeated senior leader Sukumar Bandyopadhyay by just 34 votes. His term was instrumental in stabilising the party’s foothold in Bengal despite electoral challenges.
After years away from the limelight, Prof. Ghosh recently reappeared at party events linked to the leadership transitions involving Samik Bhattacharya and Rahul Sinha in West Bengal’s BJP—signaling renewed engagement. He addressed, “It’s a matter of great honour for me, and I would try to perform my duties with utmost sincerity. I will work with dedication to serve the people of Haryana.”
As Governor, Prof. Ghosh will play a key constitutional role—overseeing legislative processes, summoning or dissolving the assembly, and appointing key state officials under articles of the Constitution.
