The former Mahendragarh MP and senior BJP leader holds a PhD in Chemistry from IIT Roorkee and has served in key party and government roles
President Droupadi Murmu has appointed Dr Sudha Yadav as Karnataka Governor as part of a reshuffle involving six states announced on October 12, 2026. The former BJP MP from Haryana has held key organisational positions and served on the National Commission for Backwards Classes.
New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu has appointed senior BJP leader Dr Sudha Yadav as the new Governor of Karnataka as part of a reshuffle involving six states. The appointments were announced on October 12, 2026, by Rashtrapati Bhavan and will take effect from the dates the appointees assume charge.
Sudha Yadav is a former Lok Sabha MP from Mahendragarh in Haryana and a member of the BJP's Parliamentary Council. Her appointment makes her the second woman to serve as Karnataka Governor, after V. S. Rama Devi.
Sudha Yadav's Political Career and BJP Roles
Born in Motla Kalan village in Haryana's Rewari district, Sudha Yadav entered electoral politics in 1999, when she won the Lok Sabha election from Mahendragarh. She served as an MP until 2004 and participated in parliamentary committees, including the Standing Committee on Defence.
In 2015, she became the national in-charge of the BJP's Backwards Classes Morcha. She subsequently served on the National Commission for Backwards Classes from 2019 to 2022.
In August 2022, the BJP inducted her into its Parliamentary Board and Central Election Committee, key bodies involved in the party's decision-making and electoral planning.
Sudha Yadav's Education and Personal Background
Sudha Yadav holds an MSc and a PhD in Chemistry from IIT Roorkee, completing her postgraduate degree in 1987 and her doctorate in 1992.
Her husband, Sukhbir Singh Yadav, served as a Deputy Commandant in the Border Security Force and was killed during the 1999 Kargil War.
Her appointment comes alongside changes in the gubernatorial leadership of five other states, including Odisha, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
