When Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar assumed charge as the 23rd Governor of Kerala on January 2, 2025, few were surprised by what followed. A steadfast Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) loyalist and former Governor of Bihar and Himachal Pradesh, Mr. Arlekar’s appointment was widely seen as a continuation, if not escalation, of the ideological and administrative friction that had marked the tenure of his predecessor, Arif Mohammed Khan.
A member of the RSS from a young age and later associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) since 1989, Mr. Arlekar is a seasoned political leader from Goa. He served twice as a Member of the Goa Legislative Assembly. He held the post of Speaker from 2012 to 2015, and was Minister of Forest and Environment and Panchayati Raj from 2015 to 2017. He also led the BJP in the southwestern State for four years.
