Why in News?
Former Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and BJP Rajya Sabha MP Dinesh Sharma has been appointed Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The appointment was announced by the Rashtrapati Bhavan on 5 September 2026. He will succeed Admiral D. K. Joshi (Retd.), who has served as Lieutenant Governor since October 2017.
About Dinesh Sharma
- Age: 62 years
- Former Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh
- BJP Rajya Sabha MP
- Serves as Vice Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha
- His Rajya Sabha term was scheduled to end on 25 November 2026.
- He will assume office as Lieutenant Governor from the date he takes charge.
About the Appointment
- The President appointed Dinesh Sharma as Lieutenant Governor under the constitutional framework governing Union Territories.
- He described the new responsibility as a commitment to the Constitution, the nation and public service and expressed gratitude to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and the BJP leadership.
About Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- Status: Union Territory
- Capital: Port Blair
- Located in the Bay of Bengal.
- The islands are strategically important because of their location near major Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific sea routes.
- The Union Territory is administered by a Lieutenant Governor appointed by the President.
