New Delhi (NVI): Girish Chandra Murmu, the first Lt Governor of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, resigned tonight amidst speculation that he was tipped to be the next Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
Murmu, a 1985-batch IAS officer from Gujarat cadre, had been appointed as first LG of Jammu and Kashmir on October 25 last year, just before the erstwhile state became UT on October 31.
Retired bureaucrat Rajesh Mohar and current CAG Rajiv Maharishi are said to be tipped to succeed Murmu in J&K, according to sources.
The sources said the new LG is expected to take charge tomorrow evening.
The development coincided with the first anniversary of abolition of Article 370 and bifurcation of J&K state into two Union Territories—J&K and Ladakh
Murmu, who hails from Odisha, had worked closely with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for over a decade when the latter was Chief Minister of Gujarat and is considered his confidante.
He was the Expenditure Secretary in the government of India since March last year before being sent to J&K. Previously, he was Special Secretary, Revenue, in the Ministry of Finance.
Earlier, he has served as Principal Secretary to the Gujarat Chief Minister when Modi held the post.
