La Ganesan Iyer (born 16 February 1945) is an Indian politician who serves as the 19th Governor of Nagaland since 20 February 2023. His previous tenures include as the 17th Governor of Manipur between 27 August 2021 and 19 February 2023, the Governor of West Bengal (Additional Charge) between 18 July 2022 and 17 November 2022. Before that, he was a member of the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh. Ganesan is a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party[2] and a veteran of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
La. Ganesan | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official portrait, 2023 | |
| 19th Governor of Nagaland | |
| Assumed office 20 February 2023[1] | |
| Chief Minister | Neiphiu Rio |
| Preceded by | Jagdish Mukhi (additional charge) |
| 17th Governor of Manipur | |
| In office 27 August 2021 – 19 February 2023 | |
| Chief Minister | N. Biren Singh |
| Preceded by | Ganga Prasad (additional charge) |
| Succeeded by | Anusuiya Uikey |
| Governor of West Bengal | |
Additional Charge | |
| In office 18 July 2022 – 17 November 2022 | |
| Chief Minister | Mamata Banerjee |
| Preceded by | Jagdeep Dhankhar |
| Succeeded by | C. V. Ananda Bose |
| Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha | |
| In office 6 October 2016 – 2 April 2018 | |
| Leader of the House | Arun Jaitley |
| Preceded by | Najma Heptullah |
| Succeeded by | Kailash Soni |
| Constituency | Madhya Pradesh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 16 February 1945 Thanjavur, Madras Presidency, British India (present-day Tamil Nadu, India) |
| Political party | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Residence(s) | Raj Bhavan, Kohima, Nagaland, India |
| Education | S.S.L.C. |
| Profession | Politician |
Early life
editGanesan was born on 16 February 1945 to Ilakumirakavan and Alamelu in a Tamil Brahmin family. He grew up with his brother after his father died at a young age. He joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), left his job without getting married, and returned to public life as a full-time activist.[3][4]
Political career
editBefore being appointed General Secretary of the TN BJP[clarification needed] unit, he was a pracharak in RSS.[5] He escaped the police during the Indira Gandhi government's oppressive Emergency, where many civil and political opponents to the Congress government were detained, and lived in hiding for about a year.[6] He then served as the National Secretary and as the Vice President of BJP.[7] He was selected as the President of BJP's Tamil Nadu state unit.
He is a former Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha and replaced the former union minister Najma Heptulla as a Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh.[8]
Speech about sacrificing Tamil Nadu
editGanesan's comments on protests started by locals against extraction of hydrocarbons at Neduvasal village in Tamil Nadu became controversial when he said, "There is nothing wrong in sacrificing a state for the welfare of the country."[9][10]
Governor of Manipur
editOn 22 August 2021, he was appointed the 17th Governor of Manipur by President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind.[11] He was sworn in as the 17th Governor of Manipur at the Darbar Hall of Raj Bhavan, Imphal on 27 August 2021. He was administered the oath of office by Honourable Chief Justice of Manipur High Court PV Sanjay Kumar. Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, ministers, and legislators were present in the ceremony. He served in the post until 12 February 2023, after which Anusuiya Uikey was appointed.
Attack on Kirubanidhi
editKirubanidhi, the first Dalit president of the BJP in Tamil Nadu, along with La. Ganesan, went to Indore, Madhya Pradesh, to participate in the BJP national council's meeting in 2003. After the meeting, La. Ganesan started verbally abusing Kirubanidhi by criticizing Kirubanidhi's caste. In an interview, Kirubanidhi said the fight was over the misuse of funds by La. Ganesan that he had pointed out.[12][6]
Additional charge as Governor of West Bengal
editOn 18 July 2022, Ganesan assumed the office of Governor of West Bengal, after Jagdeep Dhankhar was nominated as vice-presidential candidate by the National Democratic Alliance coalition.[13]
Ganesan received backlash for pushing Indian footballer Sunil Chhetri out of a photo op during the presentation ceremony of 2022 Durand Cup.[14]
Governor of Nagaland
editOn 20 February 2023, he was appointed the 19th Governor of Nagaland by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu.
References
edit- ^ "La. Ganesan sworn-in as Nagaland Governor". 20 February 2023. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
- ^ "BJP Leader La Ganesan Appointed as New Governor of Punjab". TheQuint. 22 August 2021..
- ^ "தலைவர் 11 தகவல்கள்: இல.கணேசன்". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). 12 October 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
- ^ "கவர்னராகிறார் இல.கணேசன்; முழு வாழ்க்கை வரலாறு". Dinamalar (in Tamil). 22 August 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
- ^ "Munde lobbies for Mahajan's post, but RSS has other plans". The Indian Express. 13 May 2006. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ a b சுதா, ஐஷ்வர்யா (22 August 2021). "தஞ்சாவூர் கணேசன் மணிப்பூர் ஆளுநரான கதை!". tamil.abplive.com. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ "By elevating Ganesan, BJP hopes to strengthen State unit". The Indian Express. 1 February 2006. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ "Rajya Sabha: BJP's iLa Ganesan elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal News - Times of India". The Times of India. 6 October 2016.
- ^ "ஹைட்ரோ கார்பன் திட்டம் குறித்து பொன்.ராதாகிருஷ்ணன், இல.கணேசன் கருத்து". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). 26 February 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ "La Ganesan, ex-RSS pracharak and Tamil Nadu BJP chief, made Manipur governor". Hindustan Times. 22 August 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ "Senior BJP leader La. Ganesan appointed as new governor of Manipur". outlookindia.com. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
- ^ Vignessh (13 March 2020). "Will BJP's Murugan experiment go the Kirubanidhi way?". The Federal. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
- ^ Bureau, The Hindu (18 July 2022). "La. Ganesan takes oath as West Bengal governor". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
{{cite news}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "WB governor slammed for 'pushing' Sunil Chhetri during presentation ceremony | Football News". The Times of India. PTI. 19 September 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2022.