Governors Reshuffle 2026: President Droupadi Murmu has announced new gubernatorial appointments and transfers across six Indian states, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Odisha, Uttarakhand and Sikkim. The appointments, announced by Rashtrapati Bhavan on October 12, will take effect from the dates the appointees assume charge of their respective offices.
Under the reshuffle, Om Prakash Mathur has been appointed Governor of Kerala, while Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has been appointed Governor of Tamil Nadu. Four other appointments include Sudha Yadav for Karnataka, Braj Mohan Ram for Odisha, Dhal Singh Bisen for Uttarakhand and Dushyant Gautam for Sikkim.
Full List of Governors Appointed to Six States
The appointments announced by the President are as follows:
- Kerala: Om Prakash Mathur, transferred from Sikkim.
- Tamil Nadu: Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, previously Governor of Kerala.
- Karnataka: Sudha Yadav.
- Odisha: Braj Mohan Ram.
- Uttarakhand: Dhal Singh Bisen.
- Sikkim: Dushyant Gautam.
The official communiqué states that the appointments will become effective when the respective appointees take charge. Until then, the announcement should not be confused with the formal assumption of office.
Rajendra Arlekar Appointed Full-Time Governor of Tamil Nadu
Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who was serving as Kerala’s Governor, has been appointed Governor of Tamil Nadu. He had been discharging the functions of Tamil Nadu Governor since March 2026, following the appointment of R. N. Ravi as Governor of West Bengal.
The latest order formalizes Arlekar’s appointment to Tamil Nadu. A former Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly, he has also served as Governor of Himachal Pradesh and Bihar.
Om Prakash Mathur to Take Charge in Kerala
Om Prakash Mathur, who was serving as Governor of Sikkim, has been appointed Governor of Kerala. A senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Rajya Sabha member from Rajasthan, Mathur assumed office as Sikkim’s Governor in July 2024.
His transfer to Kerala is one of the two changes involving existing governors in the latest reshuffle.
Sudha Yadav Appointed Governor of Karnataka
Dr. Sudha Yadav has been appointed Governor of Karnataka, succeeding Thaawarchand Gehlot. Yadav is a former Member of Parliament from Mahendragarh in Haryana and has previously served on the National Commission for Backward Classes.
Her appointment is among four new gubernatorial appointments announced alongside the transfers involving Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Sikkim.
Braj Mohan Ram Named Governor of Odisha
Braj Mohan Ram has been appointed Governor of Odisha, succeeding Hari Babu Kambhampati, who assumed office in January 2025. Ram is a former Lok Sabha member from Palamu.
The appointment is part of the wider reshuffle affecting six states.
Dhal Singh Bisen Appointed Governor of Uttarakhand
Dr. Dhal Singh Bisen, a former Lok Sabha member from Balaghat in Madhya Pradesh, has been appointed Governor of Uttarakhand. He will succeed Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh (Retd.), subject to the formal transition of office.
Dushyant Gautam to Become Governor of Sikkim
Dushyant Gautam, a former BJP national general secretary and former Rajya Sabha member, has been appointed Governor of Sikkim. He will succeed Om Prakash Mathur, who has been transferred to Kerala.
What Happens Next?
The new appointments will take effect from the dates on which the appointees assume charge, according to the Rashtrapati Bhavan communiqué. The announcement does not specify new responsibilities for the outgoing governors Thaawarchand Gehlot, Hari Babu Kambhampati and Gurmit Singh.
The six-state reshuffle changes the gubernatorial appointments in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Odisha, Uttarakhand and Sikkim.
