Senior BJP leader Kavinder Gupta was sworn in as the new Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Ladakh on Friday, marking a historic moment for the Union Territory. The oath was administered by Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, Justice Arun Palli, at a grand ceremony held at Raj Niwas in Leh. Chief Secretary Pawan Kotwal read out the warrant of appointment issued by President Droupadi Murmu, who appointed Gupta to the role on July 14.

Gupta, 66, succeeds Brigadier (Retd.) B.D. Mishra, who served as LG since February 2023, following the tenure of bureaucrat R.K. Mathur, Ladakh’s first LG appointed in 2019 after the region’s separation from Jammu and Kashmir. As the third LG, Gupta brings a wealth of political experience, having served as Jammu and Kashmir’s Deputy Chief Minister for 51 days in 2018 during the BJP-PDP coalition and as Speaker of the J&K Legislative Assembly after the 2014 elections.

A native of Jammu’s Janipur area, Gupta’s political journey spans decades, including three consecutive terms as Jammu’s mayor from 2005 to 2010 and leadership roles in the BJP and its youth wing, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, from 1993 to 1998. A seasoned RSS worker, he also served as secretary of the Vishva Hindu Parishad and spent 13 months in jail during the Emergency.

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The ceremony, attended by senior officials, political leaders, and local representatives, highlighted Gupta’s commitment to Ladakh’s development. He pledged to work inclusively, addressing regional challenges like infrastructure and cultural preservation, while fostering unity across Leh and Kargil.

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