Published Oct 16, 2026 | 5:52 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 16, 2026 | 5:52 PM
Dr Sudha Yadav was sworn in as Karnataka's Governor on Friday, 16 October.
Synopsis: A former BJP parliamentarian, chemistry scholar and Kargil War widow, Sudha Yadav became Karnataka’s second woman Governor on 16 October, bringing over two decades of political and organisational experience to Raj Bhavan.
From a chemistry scholar in Haryana to a parliamentarian and member of the BJP’s highest decision-making body, Dr Sudha Yadav’s political journey has been shaped by personal tragedy, electoral politics and her rise through the party’s organisational ranks over the decades.
On Friday, 16 October, Yadav was sworn in as Karnataka’s new Governor, becoming the second woman after V. S. Rama Devi (1999 – 2002) to hold the constitutional office.
Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru administered the oath at Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru. Yadav succeeded Thaawarchand Gehlot, whose tenure began in July 2021.
President Droupadi Murmu appointed her as Karnataka’s Governor on 12 October. The swearing-in ceremony also coincided with Yadav’s 61st birthday.
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Born on 16 October 1965 in Motla Kalan village of Haryana’s Rewari district, Yadav pursued higher education in chemistry at the University of Roorkee, now IIT-Roorkee, completing her MSc in Chemistry in 1987. She obtained a PHD from the same institute in 1992.
Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru administering the oath of office and secrecy to Dr Sudha Yadav on Friday,
Her entry into electoral politics came in 1999, following the death of her husband in the Kargil War, Sukhbir Singh Yadav, a Deputy Commandant in the Border Security Force (BSF).
Narendra Modi, who was then the BJP’s Haryana in-charge, played a key role in Yadav’s entry into politics. Initially reluctant to contest the 1999 Lok Sabha election following her husband’s death, Yadav was persuaded by Modi. Recalling the episode in a 2022 interview with The Print, she said Modi contributed the first ₹11 towards her election campaign and appealed to party workers for donations, helping raise ₹7.5 lakh in a short span.
Although her tenure in the Lok Sabha ended in 2004, Yadav continued to hold organisational responsibilities within the BJP.
She served as a national secretary of the party and headed its Other Backward Classes Morcha in 2015 and served as a member of the National Commission for Backward Classes from 2019-22.
In August 2022, she was inducted into the BJP’s Parliamentary Board, the party’s highest decision-making body, placing her among the party’s national leaders.
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Yadav’s appointment marks her transition from active party politics to a constitutional office in a Congress-ruled state.
As Governor, she will exercise constitutional powers over state legislation, government formation, and other matters within the framework of the Constitution.
Her tenure will also be watched in the context of past disagreements between Lok Bhavan and Karnataka’s elected government over the exercise of gubernatorial powers.
With her swearing-in, Yadav becomes the first woman in more than two decades to occupy Karnataka’s gubernatorial office, bringing together an academic background, parliamentary experience and years of organisational work within the BJP.
Welcoming Yadav’s appointment, BJP MLC N Ravikumar said her experience as a former Member of Parliament and her educational background would help her discharge her responsibilities.
“She was an MP and a professor. She is knowledgeable and can understand the problems of today’s system. We can expect positive work from our Governor,” he told South First.
Asked whether disagreements could arise between the Congress-led state government and the new Governor, he said, “Politically, we cannot see it that way. Based on the issues, she will take a stand.”
He also expressed hope that the Governor and the state government would maintain a harmonious relationship.
Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka, who attended the swearing-in ceremony, also extended his wishes to Yadav. In a post on X, he said he hoped the new Governor would uphold constitutional ideals, prioritise the welfare of Karnataka’s people, and contribute to the state’s development.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
