Dushyant Kumar Gautam takes oath as the 19th Governor of Sikkim at Lok Bhavan in Gangtok on October 19, 2026. (Img: X)
Gangtok: Dushyant Kumar Gautam was sworn in as the 19th Governor of Sikkim at Lok Bhavan in Gangtok on Monday, October 19, 2026, amid protests over his appointment linked to the controversy surrounding the 2022 Ankita Bhandari murder case. The demonstrators have urged the Centre to defer his appointment until the ongoing CBI investigation into the alleged VIP angle in the case is completed.
The oath of office and secrecy was administered by Sikkim High Court Chief Justice A Muhamed Mustaque in the presence of Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, members of the Council of Ministers, the Speaker of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly, High Court judges, the Lok Sabha MP, MLAs and other dignitaries.
Following the swearing-in ceremony, the Chief Minister introduced the newly sworn-in Governor to the Assembly Speaker, ministers, legislators and other dignitaries. Gautam was subsequently accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour by the Sikkim Armed Police.
President Droupadi Murmu appointed Gautam as the Governor of Sikkim on October 12, 2026. He succeeds Om Prakash Mathur as the state's 19th Governor.
The swearing-in ceremony comes against the backdrop of public opposition to Gautam's appointment. Last week, a group of youths and citizens without political affiliations staged a peaceful sit-in protest at the District Administrative Centre in Gangtok.
The demonstrators called on the Centre to defer Gautam's appointment until the CBI completes its investigation into the alleged VIP angle in the 2022 murder case of Ankita Bhandari. Their demand has brought renewed attention to the controversy surrounding the case and the political debate over the appointment.
The protest was directed at the timing of the appointment in light of the ongoing investigation. The allegations connected to the case remain subject to the investigative and legal process.
Gautam is a senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader who has now assumed the constitutional office of Governor of Sikkim. As the state's constitutional head, he will occupy a key position in its governance framework, with responsibilities defined by the Constitution of India.
His assumption of office marks a formal transition in the Raj Bhavan, now known as Lok Bhavan in Sikkim, even as public debate over his appointment continues.
The developments place the ceremonial transition and the protest movement in parallel focus, with Gautam taking charge as Governor while demonstrators continue to seek the completion of the CBI investigation into the alleged VIP angle in the Ankita Bhandari case.
