In a significant development, Jishnu Dev Varma has been appointed as the new Governor of Maharashtra following a fresh round of gubernatorial appointments announced by President Droupadi Murmu.
The reshuffle also includes the appointment of Shiv Pratap Shukla, who was serving as Governor of Himachal Pradesh, as the new Governor of Telangana.
The appointment of Dev Varma is considered politically important as Maharashtra remains one of India’s largest and most economically influential states.
Veteran Leader From Tripura Politics
Jishnu Dev Varma is widely recognised as a senior political leader from Tripura and belongs to the Tripura royal family. Over the years, he has played a major role in shaping the political landscape of the northeastern state.
Born on August 15, 1957, in Agartala, the capital of Tripura, Dev Varma entered public life after completing his education and gradually became active in politics.
He joined the Bharatiya Janata Party during the 1990s and worked to strengthen the party’s base in Tripura at a time when Left parties dominated the state’s political scene.
Early Role in National Politics
Dev Varma was actively involved in national-level politics and contested the Lok Sabha elections from the Tripura East Lok Sabha constituency in 1996, 1998 and 1999.
These contests highlighted his early political ambitions and his growing influence within the BJP.
Deputy Chief Minister of Tripura
His most prominent role came in 2018 when the BJP formed the government in Tripura. After the party’s historic victory, Dev Varma was appointed Deputy Chief Minister of Tripura.
During his tenure from 2018 to 2023, he handled several key departments including finance, power, planning, panchayat raj and rural development.
His tenure focused on economic planning, rural infrastructure development and improving the energy sector in the state.
Experience in Governance
As Deputy Chief Minister, Dev Varma worked on implementing various central government development schemes aimed at accelerating growth in Tripura.
His administrative experience and long political career later led to his appointment as Governor of Telangana before his latest posting in Maharashtra.
Observers believe his experience in governance and politics will play a key role in handling the responsibilities of Raj Bhavan in Maharashtra.
Interests Beyond Politics
Apart from his political career, Dev Varma is also known for his interest in literature, arts and sports.
He is recognised as a poet and writer and has been associated with badminton and sports organisations, reflecting his involvement in cultural and sporting activities beyond public life.
