Amid cabinet reshuffle buzz, Thawarchand appointed Karnataka Governor

Thawarchand Gehlot is currently Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Union Minister Thawarchand Gehlot was on Tuesday appointed as Karnataka Governor and Mangubhai Chhaganbhai Patel was named as the Governor of Madhya Pradesh, according to a Rashtrapati Bhavan communique. The development comes at a time when Union cabinet reshuffle is expected to take place on July 7 evening, according to news agency ANI.

Gehlot is the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment.

"President Kovind and PM Modi have shown faith in me and have appointed me as Karnataka Governor. I'll live up to their expectation and do my job faithfully. I'll try to resolve the issues within constitutional limits and with discussions. I will be submitting my resignation from all three positions, including Rajya Sabha MP and Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment, tomorrow in person," said the Karnataka Governor Designate.

President Ram Nath Kovind has also approved the appointment of a few Governors and changes in portfolios of some others. The announcement comes amid reports of Union Cabinet reshuffle.

Hari Babu Kambhampati and Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar have been appointed as Governors of Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh respectively, it said.

Kambhampati succeeds P S Sreedharan Pillai, who has been transferred and appointed as Governor of Goa, the communiqu said.

Arlekar replaces Bandaru Dattatraya who has been transferred and appointed as Haryana Governor, it said.

Satyadev Narayan Arya, Governor of Haryana is transferred and appointed as Governor of Tripura, the statement said.

Tripura Governor Ramesh Bais has been transferred and appointed as Governor of Jharkhand, it said.

Sources told news agency IANS that cabinet reshuffle is likely to take place in a couple of days and BJP MPs are asked to reach the national capital at the earliest.

A party insider said that BJP chief J P Nadda, who is on a two-day visit to Himachal Pradesh, will be returning to New Delhi on Tuesday evening. "Nadda ji has reached Himachal Pradesh to attend his personal and organisational program. He is reaching Delhi later today for some important work," he said.

Sources said that ahead of reshuffle the Prime Minister is likely to hold a meeting with senior ministers and party chief Nadda on Tuesday evening but there is no confirmation about the meeting.

Party functionaries claimed that calls were made to several party leaders who are expected to be inducted in the cabinet, to reach Delhi. "Following the direction of party leadership, former Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Rajya Sabha member Jyotiraditya Scindia are reaching Delhi today," he said.

Sources said that Jyotiraditya Scindia, who is likely to be inducted in Modi cabinet, has cut short his visit to Indore in Madhya Pradesh and is reaching the national capital in evening. "Earlier Scindia is expected to take on a flight from Indore to Delhi on July 7 at 11 a.m. But after he was asked to reach Delhi at the earliest, Scindia is leaving for Delhi from Indore at 3.30 p.m. on Tuesday. Before leaving for Delhi, Scindia took blessings at Mahakal Temple in Ujjain," said a BJP leader aware of the Scindia program.