Senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Kavinder Gupta, who has been appointed as the new Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh is a prominent face in the political corridors, yet the place where he has been posted is apprehensive of the fact he should execute his work in keeping with constitutional sanctity. He is the the first-ever leader from Jammu to hold this prestigious constitutional position in the Union Territory. He will replace Brig (Retd) B D Sharma on LG post.
Kavinder Gupta, a prominent face of the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir, has served as Speaker of the J&K Legislative Assembly and later as Deputy Chief Minister in the PDP-BJP coalition government. Known for his strong organizational skills and grassroots connect, Gupta’s appointment is being seen as the Centre’s move to strengthen political engagement and governance in Ladakh.
Reacting to his appointment, Gupta said, “It is an oppotunity to serve the people of Ladakh. I will work with full dedication to ensure development, peace, and welfare of the region.”He served as the Deputy Chief Minister of J-K from April 30, 2018, in the BJP-PDP government headed by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.His appointment marks a significant political signal, as it’s the first time a Jammu-born leader has been given charge of Ladakh, which has so far been governed by retired bureaucrats.
While the sudden announcement of his new assignment came as a surprise for many, insiders in the party were not completely unaware of the development as there is a lot of churning going on within senior ranks for some political settings in the Rajya Sabha as well, said a source in J&K BJP. The main attribute which perhaps enabled his choice for the post is his strong and long time association with RSS, sources said adding that the party's central leadership is also in lookout for such candidates who can execute duties in line with the command from hierarchy.
The Union territory of Ladhakh is also not new for Gupta as he has worked there for a long duration, albeit for the political assigned role. This role is different and essentially a constitutional post. While there are no political reactions from the opposition to this pick by the Centre led by BJP, the stakeholders in Ladhakh , particularly from Shia dominated Kargil community are apprehensive on account of his political background and party lineage. The leaders from the twin districts of UT have expressed hope he will not differentiate between the people on political lines instead he should adopt inclusive approach while working towards overall development of the UT in a rational manner.
Shri Kavinder Gupta, born on 2 December 1959, is a seasoned Indian politician from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, currently serving as the 3rd Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh since July 2025. Known for his disciplined political journey and strong ideological foundation, Gupta has held several key positions over the decades, including his tenure as the last Deputy Chief Minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Demonstrating remarkable administrative skills, Gupta was elected Mayor of Jammu city for three consecutive terms from 2005 to 2010 — a record in the city’s civic history. His popularity and grassroots connection were further solidified in the 2014 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections, where he won from the Gandhinagar constituency as a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate, defeating senior Congress leader Raman Bhalla.
Follow us
