Bengaluru: Senior BJP leader Dr Sudha Yadav was sworn in as the 20th Governor of Karnataka at Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru on Friday. She is the second woman to hold the constitutional post in the state, after VS Ramadevi, who served as Governor from 1999 to 2002.

Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court Vibhu Bakhru administered the oath of office to Sudha Yadav in the presence of Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara and several other dignitaries.

Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly R Ashoka, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy and outgoing Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot were among those who attended the ceremony.

Sudha Yadav’s appointment follows President Droupadi Murmu’s announcement on October 12. She succeeds Gehlot, who had served as Karnataka Governor since July 21, 2021.

Ceremony held at Lok Bhavan

Ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, Sudha Yadav paid floral tributes at the National Military Memorial in Bengaluru.

Following the oath-taking, outgoing Governor Gehlot felicitated the new Governor, while Chief Minister Shivakumar presented her with a bouquet.

The ceremony was attended by political leaders and dignitaries from across the state, marking the formal transition to the new gubernatorial administration.

As Governor, Sudha Yadav assumes a constitutional position that includes responsibilities relating to the functioning of the state government and the legislative process, as provided under the Constitution of India.

Second woman to become Karnataka Governor

Sudha Yadav’s appointment marks a milestone in Karnataka’s gubernatorial history, as she becomes only the second woman to occupy the post.

VS Ramadevi was the first woman Governor of Karnataka, serving from 1999 to 2002. Her tenure remains a notable part of the state’s constitutional history.

The Governor is appointed by the President of India and serves as the constitutional head of the state. The office plays an important role in matters such as the appointment of the Chief Minister, summoning and proroguing the state legislature, and giving assent to legislation, in accordance with constitutional provisions.

Long association with the BJP

Sudha Yadav hails from Haryana and has held several organisational and political positions within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

She represented the Mahendragarh constituency in Haryana in the Lok Sabha from 1999 to 2004. After her parliamentary tenure, she continued to be associated with the party’s organisational activities and served as BJP national secretary.

She also headed the BJP’s Other Backward Classes (OBC) Morcha, which focuses on the party’s organisational outreach among OBC communities.

In August 2022, Sudha Yadav was inducted into the BJP Parliamentary Board, the party’s highest decision-making body. Her appointment to the board placed her among the senior leaders involved in key organisational decisions.

She also served as a member of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) from 2019 to 2022.

Her experience in parliamentary politics, party organisation and the commission has formed a significant part of her public career.

Academic background and personal journey

Sudha Yadav holds a postgraduate degree in Chemistry and a PhD from Roorkee University.

Her entry into politics followed the death of her husband, Sukhbir Singh Yadav, who served as a Deputy Commandant in the Border Security Force (BSF). He was killed during the 1999 Kargil War.

Following the loss, she entered public life and went on to build a political career that included parliamentary representation and senior organisational responsibilities within the BJP.

Her journey from an academic background to national politics and, now, the gubernatorial office in Karnataka marks a new phase in her public service.

Sudha Yadav takes charge amid political transition

The appointment comes as Karnataka continues to be governed by the Congress, with DK Shivakumar serving as Deputy Chief Minister and the state’s political leadership represented at the swearing-in ceremony.

As Governor, Sudha Yadav will be expected to discharge her constitutional duties in accordance with the Constitution, working within the established framework governing relations between the Governor and the elected state government.

Her appointment also brings a change at Lok Bhavan following Gehlot’s tenure of more than five years.

With her formal swearing-in, Sudha Yadav begins her tenure as Karnataka’s 20th Governor and the state’s second woman to hold the office.