New Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla Takes Oath, To Address Legislature March 16

Shiv Pratap Shukla was sworn in as the new Governor of Telangana on Wednesday at a ceremony held at Raj Bhavan in Hyderabad. The oath of office was administered by Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court, Aparesh Kumar. In a move that surprised many attendees, Shukla took the oath in Telugu, reflecting his effort to connect with the local populace.

President Droupadi Murmu appointed Shukla as the Governor, succeeding Jishnu Dev Varma, who has now been appointed as the Governor of Maharashtra. Shukla, who arrived in Hyderabad on Tuesday, will address a joint session of the state legislature on March 16, coinciding with the beginning of the Assembly Budget session.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by several top state leaders, including Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, state ministers, Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar, and Legislative Council Chairman Gutha Sukhender Reddy. Chief Minister Reddy received Shukla at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport upon his arrival.

Also Read: 19 Deputies, Including Military Officers, Removed from China’s Legislature Ahead of Annual Meet

Shukla, born on April 1, 1952, in Rudrapur village of Gorakhpur district, Uttar Pradesh, has a long political career. He was associated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) during his student years and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1983. He was elected to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly multiple times and held various ministerial portfolios, including Basic Education, Horticulture, Sports, Youth Welfare, Food Processing, and Rural Development.

In 2016, Shukla was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh and later served as Minister of State for Finance in the Modi government until July 4, 2022. Prior to his Telangana appointment, he was serving as the Governor of Himachal Pradesh since February 18, 2023.

Shukla is the fourth Governor of Telangana since the state’s formation in 2014, and his appointment marks a continuation of experienced leadership in the region. His decision to take the oath in Telugu is being seen as a gesture of cultural respect and outreach to the state’s residents.

Also Read: New Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla Arrives In Hyderabad, Oath Tomorrow