Panaji, Jul 6: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday congratulated former State Assembly Speaker Rajendra Arlekar on his appointment as Governor of Himachal Pradesh.

In a tweet, the Chief Minister said,’Hearty congratulations to our senior leader, Ex-Speaker of Goa Assembly & Ex-Minister of Goa Govt Shri Rajendra Arlekar ji on being appointed as the Governor of Himachal Pradesh. It’s a proud moment for all Goans as Arlekar ji is the first Goan to be appointed to this position.’

The President on Tuesday appointed Mr. Arlekar as Governor of Himachal Pradesh.

Mr. Arlekar was elected to the fourth Legislative Assembly of Goa in 2002 and the sixth Legislative Assembly in 2012. In 2012, he was elected Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly and in 2015 he was inducted into the state cabinet headed by then Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar. He had held Panchayat, Forest, and Environment portfolios.

However, he lost assembly elections in 2017.

Earlier, Mr Arlekar has held various positions like District President, BJP, South Goa District, Secretary, Bharatiya Janata Party, Goa, General Secretary, Bharatiya Janata Party, Goa, President, Bharatiya Janata Party, Goa, Member, BJP, National Executive Committee, and Spokesperson, Bharatiya Janata Party, Goa.(UNI)