Om Prakash Mathur sworn in as Kerala Governor on Friday at Lok Bhavan
Synopsis
Om Prakash Mathur, a BJP veteran and former Sikkim Governor, lands in Thiruvananthapuram ahead of his Friday swearing-in as Kerala's new Governor — replacing Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who received a warm farewell from the very government that had often been at odds with centrally appointed Governors. The cross-party airport reception underlines the constitutional formality, even as Mathur's appointment signals a continued BJP organisational presence at Raj Bhavan.
Key Takeaways
Om Prakash Mathur , 74 , arrived in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday night, 23 October 2026 and will be sworn in as Kerala Governor at 12.15 pm on Friday at Lok Bhavan .
He succeeds Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar , who was given a formal farewell by the Kerala government at a dinner the same evening.
Satheesan , Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala , Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan , and BJP's V.
Muraleedharan received Mathur at the airport.
Mathur previously served as the 18th Governor of Sikkim from July 2024 to October 2026 and as a Rajya Sabha MP from Rajasthan for two terms.
He also served as President of the Rajasthan BJP from 2008 to 2009 .
Kerala Governor-designate Om Prakash Mathur arrived in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday night, 23 October 2026, ahead of his swearing-in ceremony scheduled at 12.15 pm on Friday at the Lok Bhavan auditorium. The 74-year-old Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran succeeds Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar as the Governor of Kerala.
Arrival and Reception
A cross-party delegation received Mathur at the airport, signalling a ceremonially warm handover. Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, and BJP legislator and former Union Minister V. Muraleedharan were among those present at the reception. The same evening, Satheesan and his team also saw off outgoing Governor Arlekar, who received an official farewell dinner hosted by the state government at a hotel in the capital.
Warm Send-Off for Outgoing Governor Arlekar
At the farewell dinner, Chief Minister Satheesan said the government had enjoyed a warm relationship with Arlekar and conveyed the gratitude of both the government and the people of Kerala, wishing him well in his future endeavours. Home Minister Chennithala noted that Arlekar had made consistent efforts to work in coordination with the state government. Speaker Radhakrishnan described the outgoing Governor as someone who maintained close contact with ordinary people. In his reply, Arlekar said he had 'only returned the love and affection he received from the people of Kerala.' The Chief Minister also presented the state's honour to Arlekar before his departure.
Who Is Om Prakash Mathur
Mathur is a seasoned organisational figure within the BJP with a long record in both party and parliamentary affairs. He served as the 18th Governor of Sikkim from July 2024 until October 2026 before being appointed to Kerala. Prior to that, he represented Rajasthan in the Rajya Sabha for two terms — from 2008 to 2014 and from 2016 to 2022 — and served as President of the Rajasthan BJP from 2008 to 2009.
Significance of the Transition
The arrival of Mathur and the departure of Arlekar marked a formal transition at Raj Bhavan, with the Kerala government extending courtesies to both the incoming and outgoing Governors. Notably, the reception committee included both a ruling-party minister and a BJP legislator, reflecting the constitutional protocol that cuts across political lines when it comes to gubernatorial appointments. Mathur's appointment brings to Kerala a figure with deep roots in BJP's organisational structure at a time when Centre-state relations in the state remain politically charged.
What Happens Next
Mathur's swearing-in at Lok Bhavan auditorium at 12.15 pm on Friday will formally make him Kerala's new Governor. His tenure will be closely watched given the historically complex dynamic between the Left-led Kerala government and BJP-appointed Governors in recent years.
Point of View
The same night he bids farewell to the outgoing one — is constitutional protocol at its most visible. But the substance matters more than the ceremony: Mathur arrives with deep BJP organisational credentials at a moment when Centre-state friction in Kerala has rarely been far from the headlines. Whether his tenure follows the cooperative tone that Arlekar reportedly struck, or reverts to the confrontational pattern seen with earlier Governors, will define the political texture of Raj Bhavan for years. The warm farewell for Arlekar is notable in itself — it suggests the Kerala government has learnt that performative conflict with a sitting Governor rarely yields political dividends.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Om Prakash Mathur be sworn in as Kerala Governor?
Om Prakash Mathur will be sworn in as Kerala Governor at 12.15 pm on Friday, 24 October 2026, at the Lok Bhavan auditorium in Thiruvananthapuram. He arrived in the state capital on Thursday night ahead of the ceremony.
Who is Om Prakash Mathur?
Om Prakash Mathur, 74, is a veteran BJP organisational leader who served as the 18th Governor of Sikkim from July 2024 to October 2026. He also represented Rajasthan in the Rajya Sabha for two terms — 2008 to 2014 and 2016 to 2022 — and served as President of the Rajasthan BJP from 2008 to 2009.
Who did Om Prakash Mathur replace as Kerala Governor?
Mathur succeeds Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who received an official farewell from the Kerala state government at a dinner on Thursday evening before departing the state.
Who received Om Prakash Mathur at Thiruvananthapuram airport?
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, and BJP legislator and former Union Minister V. Muraleedharan were among those who received Mathur at the airport.
What did Chief Minister Satheesan say about outgoing Governor Arlekar?
Chief Minister Satheesan said the government had enjoyed a warm relationship with Arlekar and conveyed the gratitude of the government and the people of Kerala, wishing him success in his new endeavours. He also presented the state's honour to the outgoing Governor.
