AFTER A SUCCESSFUL GUBERNATORIAL STINT, WILL GUV KALRAJ MISHRA GET AN EXTENSION?

Jaipur: Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra will complete his tenure on July 22, marking five years of service. Mishra initially became the governor of Himachal Pradesh on July 22, 2019, before being made the governor of Rajasthan on September 9, 2019.

In the past, hardly any governor in the country has been given an extension after 5 years, so the possibility of Kalraj Mishra being given an extension is slim. Among the 44 governors who have served in Raj Bhawan, Mishra is one of the few to complete a full five-year tenure. He took over from Kalyan Singh as governor five years ago.

At 83, Kalraj Mishra has had a long and successful political career. He began as an MLA from Lucknow and steadily rose through the political ranks. Mishra has served as a minister in the Uttar Pradesh government, a member of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, and a minister in Narendra Modi’s govt at the Centre.

Kalraj Mishra, an experienced politician, became the governor of Rajasthan while Ashok Gehlot was in power. Due to internal Congress politics, Mishra unintentionally clashed with the CM. On July 24, 2020, Gehlot and his MLAs marched to Raj Bhawan to demand an assembly session. Mishra took a firm stand, resulting in a strained relationship between the two.

Experts note that such a conflict between a governor and a chief minister is rare. The last notable instance was in 1993, when Governor Baliram Bhagat faced a protest at Raj Bhavan by Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who sat on a dharna for the claim of becoming the CM.

The tension between Klraj Mishra and Ashok Gehlot in July 2020 was short-lived. Once the initial conflict was resolved, their relationship remained cordial for the rest of Gehlot’s tenure as CM. Mishra fully cooperated with the Gehlot government, ensuring a smooth administration.

Kalraj Mishra has built a reputation as a popular and successful governor through his simple lifestyle, sociability, cordial relations with politicians and the media, and effective management of Raj Bhawan’s responsibilities. The establishment of Constitutional Park in Raj Bhavan stands as one of his notable achievements, ensuring he will be remembered fondly in Rajasthan. Now everyone is curious about who will be Kalraj Mishra’s successor.