Rajendra Arlekar
Governor of Kerala and Tamil Nadu (born 1954)
Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar is an Indian politician who has served as the Governor of Kerala since January 2025. He took additional charge as the Governor of Tamil Nadu on 12 March 2026. Previously, he had served as the Governor of Bihar and Himachal Pradesh. A member of the Bharatiya Janata Party, he was elected twice to the Goa Legislative Assembly. He served as a cabinet minister in the Government of Goa from 2015 to 2017 and was the speaker of the Goa assembly from 2012 to 2015.
Rajendra Arlekar | |
|---|---|
 Arlekar in 2025 | |
| 21st Governor of Tamil Nadu | |
| Assumed office 12 March 2026 | |
| M. K. Stalin C. Joseph Vijay | |
| Preceded by | R. N. Ravi |
| 30th Governor of Kerala | |
| Assumed office 2 January 2025 | |
| Pinarayi Vijayan V. D. Satheesan | |
| Preceded by | Arif Mohammad Khan |
| 28th Governor of Bihar | |
| In office 17 February 2023 – 1 January 2025 | |
| Nitish Kumar | |
| Preceded by | Phagu Chauhan |
| Succeeded by | Arif Mohammad Khan |
| 21st Governor of Himachal Pradesh | |
| In office 13 July 2021 – 16 February 2023 | |
| Jai Ram Thakur | |
| Preceded by | Bandaru Dattatreya |
| Succeeded by | Shiv Pratap Shukla |
| Minister of Forest, Environment and Panchayat of Goa | |
| In office 1 October 2015 – 14 March 2017 | |
Chief Minister | Laxmikant Parsekar |
| Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 16 March 2012 – 1 October 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Pratapsingh Rane |
| Succeeded by | Anant Shet |
| Member of the Goa Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 2012–2017 | |
| Preceded by | Dayanand Sopte |
| Succeeded by | Manohar Ajgaonkar |
| Constituency | Pernem |
| In office 2002–2007 | |
| Preceded by | Jose Philip D'Souza |
| Succeeded by | Jose Philip D'Souza |
| Constituency | Vasco Da Gama |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar 23 April 1954 |
| Party | Bharatiya Janata Party (since 1989) |
| Spouse | Anagha Arlekar |
| Children | 2 |
| Profession | Politician |
| Website | rajendraarlekar |
| |
Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar (born 23 April 1954) is an Indian politician who has served as the Governor of Kerala since January 2025. He took additional charge as the Governor of Tamil Nadu on 12 March 2026. Previously, he had served as the Governor of Bihar and Himachal Pradesh. A member of the Bharatiya Janata Party, he was elected twice to the Goa Legislative Assembly. He served as a cabinet minister in the Government of Goa from 2015 to 2017 and was the speaker of the Goa assembly from 2012 to 2015.
Early and personal life
Arlekar was born at Nova Goa, Portuguese India (present-day Panaji, Goa), to Vishwanath Arlekar and Tilomattama.[1] He completed his schooling at St. Joseph’s Institute in Vasco da Gama and then did his degree in Commerce from M.E.S. College in Zuarinagar. He belongs to the Dalit community.[2] He is married to Anagha and has two children.[1]
Political career
Arlekar was associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) during his childhood. He was imprisoned during the Emergency. He joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 1989. He held various positions within the party, and later served as the state president of the BJP Goa wing of the party. He was elected to the Goa Legislative Assembly for the first time in the 2002 Goa Legislative Assembly election, and was re-elected in 2012. He was elected as the speaker of the assembly in 2012, and during his tenure as the speaker, Goa assembly became the first legislative assembly in India to adopt a paperless system.[1]
In October 2015, Arlekar was appointed the minister for environment and forests in the Government of Goa.[3]
Governorships (2021–present)
Governor of Himachal Pradesh (2021–2023)
Being appointed as a governor, Arlekar took oath as the Governor of Himachal Pradesh on 13 July 2021, replacing Bandaru Dattatreya who was transferred as the Governor of Haryana[4]. Arlekar served in this position until 20 February 2023, when he was transferred as the Governor of Bihar. Shiv Pratap Shukla became his successor in Himachal Pradesh.[citation needed]
Governor of Bihar (2023–2025)
On 16 February 2023, Arlekar was sworn in as the 38th Governor of Bihar replacing Phagu Chauhan. He continued this office until 2 January 2025 when he was transferred as the Governor of Kerala. Arif Mohammad Khan became his successor his Bihar.[citation needed]
Governor of Kerala (2025–present)
On 2 January 2025, Arlekar took charge as the 30th Governor of Kerala replacing Arif Mohammad Khan.[5]
Governor of Tamil Nadu (additional charge) (2026-present)
On 12 March 2026, Arlekar was sworn in as the 21st Governor of Tamil Nadu succeeding R. N. Ravi.[6] He is holding additional charge of Tamil Nadu.
References
- 1 2 3 "Governor profile". Raj Bhavan, Kerala. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ↑ "Governor Rajendra Arlekar is from schedule caste". Amar Ujala (in Hindi). 21 May 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
- ↑ Shetye, Murari (1 October 2015). "Pernem MLA Rajendra Arlekar takes oath as minister". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 1 January 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
- ↑ "Ex-Goa Speaker Rajendra Arlekar is new Himachal Governor". Lokmat English. IANS. 6 July 2021. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
- ↑ "Rajendra Arlekar is new Kerala Governor; Arif Mohammed Khan moved to Bihar". Onmanorama. 24 December 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ↑ "Rajendra Arlekar to take additional charge as TN Governor on March 12: Reports". On Manorama. 9 March 2026. Retrieved 10 March 2026.