BJP leader made Lt. Governor of Andaman & Nicobar

Sharma, 62, will succeed Admiral D K Joshi (Retd), who has held the post since October 2017.

The appointment marks a new phase in Sharma’s political career. He served as Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh between 2017 and 2022 and had earlier served as Mayor of Lucknow. He subsequently entered Parliament after being elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh in 2023. He has also served on the Rajya Sabha’s panel of vice-chairpersons.

Following the announcement, Sharma expressed gratitude to President Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the BJP leadership. He described the new assignment as a responsibility towards the Constitution, the nation and public service, pledging to discharge his duties with dedication and integrity.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands occupy an important strategic position in the Indian Ocean region. Sharma’s appointment comes at a time when the Union Territory is witnessing increased focus on connectivity, infrastructure, security and development.

His move to the Lieutenant Governor’s office will also create a vacancy in the Rajya Sabha, as his current parliamentary term was scheduled to continue until November 25.