Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar (born 23 April 1954) is an Indian politician who has served as the Governor of Kerala since January 2025. He took additional charge as the Governor of Tamil Nadu on 12 March 2026. Previously, he had served as the Governor of Bihar and Himachal Pradesh. A member of the Bharatiya Janata Party, he was elected twice to the Goa Legislative Assembly. He served as a cabinet minister in the Government of Goa from 2015 to 2017 and was the speaker of the Goa assembly from 2012 to 2015.
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Early and personal life
Arlekar was born at Nova Goa, Portuguese India (present-day Panaji, Goa), to Vishwanath Arlekar and Tilomattama. He completed his schooling at St. Joseph’s Institute in Vasco da Gama and then did his degree in Commerce from M.E.S. College in Zuarinagar. He belongs to the Dalit community. He is married to Anagha and has two children.
Political career
Arlekar was associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) during his childhood. He was imprisoned during the Emergency. He joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 1989. He held various positions within the party, and later served as the state president of the BJP Goa wing of the party. He was elected to the Goa Legislative Assembly for the first time in the 2002 Goa Legislative Assembly election, and was re-elected in 2012. He was elected as the speaker of the assembly in 2012, and during his tenure as the speaker, Goa assembly became the first legislative assembly in India to adopt a paperless system.
In October 2015, Arlekar was appointed the minister for environment and forests in the Government of Goa.
Governorships (2021–present)
Governor of Himachal Pradesh (2021–2023)
Being appointed as a governor, Arlekar took oath as the Governor of Himachal Pradesh on 13 July 2021, replacing Bandaru Dattatreya who was transferred as the Governor of Haryana. Arlekar served in this position until 20 February 2023, when he was transferred as the Governor of Bihar. Shiv Pratap Shukla became his successor in Himachal Pradesh.
Governor of Bihar (2023–2025)
On 16 February 2023, Arlekar was sworn in as the 38th Governor of Bihar replacing Phagu Chauhan. He continued this office until 2 January 2025 when he was transferred as the Governor of Kerala. Arif Mohammad Khan became his successor his Bihar.
Governor of Kerala (2025–present)
On 2 January 2025, Arlekar took charge as the 30th Governor of Kerala replacing Arif Mohammad Khan.
Governor of Tamil Nadu (Additional charge) (2026-present)
On 12 March 2026, Arlekar was sworn in as the 21st Governor of Tamil Nadu succeeding R. N. Ravi. He is holding additional charge of Tamil Nadu.