Chizokho Vero
Kohima | February 3
Seventy four years old Katteekal Shankaranarayanan was today sworn-in as the new Governor of Nagaland in the presence of state dignitaries including Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio, Opposition Leader I. Imkong, Council of Ministers, parliamentary secretaries, legislators, top government officials and leaders from various organizations.
D. Biswas, acting Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court administered oath to the new Governor in a swearing-in ceremony held at Darbar Hall, Raj Bhavan this morning.
Shankaranarayanan replaced Shyamal Datta, who left the state Thursday after relinquishing office at Raj Bhavan.
Later, in the civic reception at the State Academy Hall under the aegis of the Kohima Municipal Council (KMC), the new Governor stressed on the need to focus on peace, social harmony and economic growth of the state. He reminded that peace is required for economic development.
A state reception was also held in the Banquet Hall, Kohima in the evening in honor of the new Governor.
Shankaranarayanan, former Finance and Agriculture Minister of Kerala, was born on October 15, 1932, son of Sankaran Nair and K Lekshmi Amma.
He was an active student leader since 1946; elected to the 5th Kerala Legislative Assembly (KLA) from Thrithala; elected to 6th KLA from Shreekrishnapuram; elected to 8th KLA from Ottappalam; elected to 11th KLA from Palghat; three times minister in Kerala and convenor of UDF from 1985-2001 in Kerala.
Sources said Shankaranarayanan is credited with ushering in a number of tax reform measures to put state finances back on track. As Finance Minister, he also undertook substantive reforms in the public sector and opened doors for private sector participation in Kerala’s industrial development.
