NEW DELHI: Satya Pal Mailk was sworn-in as the governor of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday.

Malik replaced N N Vohra whose term as the governor of the state expired in July. Malik was the governor of Bihar for less than a year.

The appointment of the governor in J&K assumes significance at this point as the state is under the governor rule after the BJP and PDP broke their alliance in June. The new appointment comes just days before the hearing of Article 35-A in the Supreme Court.

The choice of a political appointee and breaking the more usual choices like a former military or intelligence head or an ex-bureaucrat with experience in handling J&K affairs, is seen as a conscious decision to facilitate delivery of security and development initiatives while the state is under governor’s rule. There is a view that political initiatives will take time, with immediate attention on panchayat polls.

Malik’s immediate assignment will be to deliver the much-delayed civic polls in the state.

Earlier, while talking to TOI, Malik said his top priority will be to carry out the Modi government's mandate to "win the hearts of people of J&K", a task where his credentials as a career politician may come in handy.

