New Delhi: In a significant gubernatorial reshuffle, President Droupadi Murmu has appointed veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Rajya Sabha MP Om Prakash Mathur as the new Governor of Kerala.
Mathur, who has been serving as the Governor of Sikkim, will succeed Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who has been appointed Governor of Tamil Nadu.
The appointments were announced through an official Rashtrapati Bhavan communiqué issued on October 12, 2026.
The reshuffle covers six Indian states, with the appointments becoming effective when the respective Governors formally assume office.
Who Is Om Prakash Mathur?
Om Prakash Mathur is a veteran Indian politician with more than five decades of experience in political organisation, parliamentary affairs and public life.
Born on January 2, 1952, in Bedal village of Rajasthan’s Pali district, Mathur rose from a grassroots political background to become one of the BJP’s experienced national organisers.
His parents were Chand Raj Mathur and Sajjan Kanwar.
He completed his graduation from Rajasthan University in Jaipur.
Mathur began his public career through the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), subsequently moving into the BJP’s organisational structure.
Over the decades, he has held important responsibilities in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.
His extensive experience in political organisation and election management has been a defining feature of his career.
Early Political Journey: Beginning with the RSS
Mathur joined the RSS as a pracharak in 1972.
Between 1972 and 1979, he served as a district-level RSS pracharak in different parts of Rajasthan.
During the Emergency imposed in 1975, Mathur spent approximately 11 months in prison, according to his official biography.
From 1979 to 1989, he worked as an organisational secretary of the Kisan Sangh.
His involvement in grassroots mobilisation and organisational development helped establish his political career.
He subsequently became associated with the BJP’s national organisational network.
Rise Through the BJP Leadership
Mathur steadily rose through the BJP’s hierarchy and held several influential positions.
Between 2004 and 2008, he served as a national general secretary of the party.
In 2008, he became president of the BJP’s Rajasthan unit.
He later served as a national vice-president of the BJP from 2015 to 2022.
From 2022 to 2024, he was a member of the party’s Central Election Committee.
These assignments established him as an experienced organisational leader within the BJP.
An Experienced Election Strategist
Mathur has played important roles in the BJP’s election-related organisational activities across several states.
In 2002, he was entrusted with election responsibilities in Uttarakhand.
In 2003, he handled organisational responsibilities in Madhya Pradesh.
He subsequently held important positions in Gujarat, including organisational assignments in 2004 and 2011.
During the 2014 political cycle, he was assigned responsibilities in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.
In 2018, he served as the BJP’s Karnataka Assembly election in-charge.
In 2019, he handled election responsibilities in Jharkhand and Gujarat.
He was also assigned organisational responsibilities in Chhattisgarh in 2022.
His long association with the party’s national leadership and multiple state units made him a prominent figure in the BJP’s organisational system.
Two Terms in the Rajya Sabha
Mathur represented Rajasthan in the Rajya Sabha for two terms.
His first term extended from 2008 to 2014.
He returned to the Upper House in 2016 and served until 2022.
During his parliamentary career, he participated in committees dealing with defence, railways, petroleum and natural gas, commerce and public undertakings.
He also served as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha House Committee.
His parliamentary experience complemented his extensive background in party organisation.
From Sikkim Governor to Kerala Governor
Mathur was appointed Governor of Sikkim in July 2024.
His latest appointment marks a transition from the northeastern state to Kerala, where he will take up a new constitutional responsibility.
The President has appointed Dushyant Gautam as the new Governor of Sikkim.
For Mathur, the Kerala assignment represents another significant milestone in a political and public career spanning more than five decades.
What Awaits Mathur in Kerala?
Kerala’s political environment presents a distinct constitutional and administrative setting.
The Governor plays an important role in the state’s constitutional framework, including responsibilities relating to legislative bills, government formation and other functions prescribed by the Constitution.
The relationship between Kerala’s elected government and the Governor’s office has previously witnessed disagreements over legislative and administrative matters.
Against this background, Mathur’s approach towards constitutional responsibilities and relations with the state government will attract considerable attention.
His extensive experience in political organisation may influence his working style, but the office of Governor requires him to discharge responsibilities in accordance with the Constitution rather than partisan considerations.
Six States Get New Governors
The appointments announced by President Droupadi Murmu are:
State
Newly appointed Governor
Kerala
Om Prakash Mathur
Tamil Nadu
Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar
Karnataka
Dr Sudha Yadav
Odisha
Braj Mohan Ram
Uttarakhand
Dr Dhal Singh Bisen
Sikkim
Dushyant Gautam
