Modi opts for a political - non RSS background man as new Guv of J&K

IT'S A PATH BREAKING MOVE. FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSE SATYA PAL MALIK IS THE FIRST CAREER POLITICIAN TO BE APPOINTED AS GOVERNOR OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Technically second politico Guv in J&K

The Modi government has taken a small risk and undertaken this experiment

In a decision which could prove to be significant, the Modi government on Tuesday appointed a politician Satya Pal Mallik at the helm of affairs in the troubled state of Jammu and Kashmir.
A low profile politician Mr Malik, a former MP and state legislator in Uttar Pradesh, belongs to the days of yore in Indian politics.
He was a member of Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh and also in Lok Sabha from Aligarh between 1989 to 1991. He was also a member of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly between 1974 and 1977.

Mr Malik will be probably the second 'political appointee' since Karan Singh, who was Governor from 1965 to May 15, 1967. But Singh had princely background and was somehow connected to the history of the state.

A look at the list of Governors for the northern state shows illustrious figures like B K Nehru, L K Jha, Jagmohan, Gen K V Krishna Rao, Gen S K Sinha and Girish Chandra Saxena.

All these former Governors had wide administrative experience as distinguished civil servants or military officers.

Since the imposition of Governor's Rule in Jammu and Kashmir on June 20, there have been criticism of the Centre that it is trying to follow a policy of hot pursuits to crush militancy in the northern state.
The government decision to name a new Governor for Jammu and Kashmir comes in the wake of 89-year-old N N Vohra requesting the Centre repeatedly that he should be relieved of his responsibilities.
There seems to be a subtle message in the Government decision to appoint a 'political person' for the key post amid speculation that either a former army official or top retired bureaucrat will be assigned the responsibility.

A top government source justified the move and said a fresh attempt will be made as "former bureaucrats and retired army generals" have been given a chance.

Therefore the idea is to try a 'political appointee'.

In the past Governors like Jagmohan and Gen S K Sinha courted controversies while N N Vohra, 89, - who had sought retirement - could give a soothing touch.

Importantly, he was with the Congress in 1984 and became its Rajya Sabha MP but resigned in the wake of the Bofors scam. He switched to the VP Singh-led Janta Dal in 1988 and became an MP from Aligarh on its ticket in 1989.

He later shifted to BJP in 2004.