Dinesh Sharma takes oath as 14th Lieutenant-Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Dinesh Sharma, a former Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and Rajya Sabha member, officially assumed charge as the 14th Lieutenant-Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands after taking his oath of office at a ceremony held at Lok Niwas in Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair) on Tuesday (September 15, 2026).

Chief Justice Ravindra Vithalrao Ghuge of the Calcutta High Court administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr. Sharma, while Chief Secretary Gyanesh Bharti read out the Warrant of Appointment during the ceremony. The swearing-in was attended by senior bureaucrats, representatives of political parties, and members of the business community.

Academic and political background

Mr. Sharma brings extensive administrative and academic experience to the role. A former professor of commerce at the University of Lucknow, he previously served as Mayor of Lucknow before entering state-level politics. During his tenure in the Uttar Pradesh Government, he held multiple portfolios including higher and secondary education, science and technology, and electronics and information technology.

The BJP leader was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh in 2023. Mr. Sharma arrived in the islands from New Delhi on September 13 along with his wife, Jai Lakshmi Sharma.

The Rashtrapati Bhavan had announced Mr. Sharma's appointment as Lieutenant-Governor of the Union Territory on September 5. He succeeds Admiral D.K. Joshi (retd.), who served as Lieutenant-Governor from October 8, 2017.

Source: The Hindu