Vijayashankar sworn in as new Meghalaya Governor, says he is aware of local issues including ILP demand

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 30, 2024

Two-time Mysuru MP and former minister Chandrashekar H Vijayashankar on Tuesday sworn in as Meghalaya Governor even as he pledged to work with the NDA-led state government here for the overall development of the state. 

The oath of office to Vijayashankar was administered by the Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court S Vaidyanathan at a solemn ceremony held at Raj Bhavan in presence of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, cabinet ministers, senior government officials and other dignitaries.

Speaking to journalists after taking charge of office, Vijayashankar said, “It is really an opportunity to serve Meghalaya as a governor of the state. In that way I am really grateful to the president of the nation Draupadi Murmu and I am also really grateful to the Prime Minister Narendra Modiji. I have served as MLA, MP and as minister but this position as a governor is a really big responsibility on the shoulders.”

He also lauded the people of Meghalaya for making cleanliness as their top priority and also ensuring the state is peaceful with no law and order problem.

The newly appointed Governor said that he does not have any personal agenda except to work for the development of Meghalaya. 

“I am supposed to work here as a governor. I take everybody into confidence here not only the government, bureaucracy, I take everybody into confidence and the only (agenda is) development.

I don’t have any personal agenda here; I will never keep any personal agenda here including politics. I have no political agenda,” he said while adding “The President and Prime Minister have sent me here to serve the state as a governor, that’s all my responsibility. As a governor, whatever I am supposed to look after, whatever care I have to take, I will stick to that. Rest of the issues not at all related to me.”

Vijayashankar also expressed that he wanted the people of Meghalaya to remember him as one of the honest and development-oriented governors that have come to the state.

“Meghalaya people should always remember (like this). In that way I am ready to give my time, I am ready to work (for the people),” he stated.

Expressing happiness that the NDA is running the government in Meghalaya, Vijayashankar said, “…another thing I want to tell you is that I am so proud to say here when I entered into parliament as a member, Mr (Late Purno A) Sangma was Speaker that time and right now his son, Mr (Conrad K ) Sangma is the chief minister. When I entered parliament first time, his father was the speaker and when I came here as a governor, his son was the chief minister. I know this family very well, I know the background of the family. Moreover, the NDA government is running here and I take everybody into confidence as ultimately, we have to run the government very smoothly and always have to give maximum priority and importance to the government of the state accordingly, I work here as the governor.”

“I am going to be with the people and take you people into confidence. I am open so let us work together for the development of Meghalaya,” he also appealed.

Whether he would take up with the Centre for immediate implement of the ILP to address the influx issue, the governor said, “For your information I tell you I also belong to that community and I am coming from the same community, the community that you addressed now, the same community I belong, nothing to worry, I know the local issues here. Long back I had come to Meghalaya when I was in the parliamentary standing committee on railways as a member of parliament, twice I had visited Meghalaya, many times I have come here but officially I have never addressed the media. This is the first time I am going to address here. I know the regional issues and all those issues will keep in mind and let us try to do and give justice to them.”