Brijmohan Ram, a Jharkhand BJP leader, has been appointed the new governor of Odisha. Before the appointment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly tried to speak with him, but Ram did not answer calls from a private number because he believed they might be from an unknown person.
Ram later learned that the Prime Minister's Office had called nearly 10 times. The two eventually connected after another caller informed him that Modi wanted to speak with him. When the private number called again, Modi was on the line.
What Modi told Brijmohan Ram
According to Ram's account, Modi began the conversation by saying “Johar”. The Prime Minister then asked about his wellbeing and his work in the organisation.
As Ram started explaining his responsibilities, Modi told him that he already knew about them. Modi then informed him that he was set to receive a major government responsibility, while asking him not to share the information with anyone at that stage.
Home Minister Amit Shah later called Ram and conveyed that he had been selected as governor. The account places the calls shortly before the announcement of Ram's appointment to the Odisha governorship.
Ram's political journey
Ram was born on 1 January 1958 in Chandwa, in Palamu district of what was then Bihar. Chandwa is described as a small town in Jharkhand, from where his political career moved through several important stages.
He began his political life in undivided Bihar. He served as a legislator from the Latehar Assembly constituency and later became a Member of Parliament from the Palamu Lok Sabha seat.
Ram won the Palamu seat three consecutive times, in 1996, 1998 and 1999. After 2004, however, he did not receive a ticket to contest a Lok Sabha election for 22 years.
Despite not receiving an election ticket, Ram remained with the BJP and continued working for the party. He has said that many leaders leave their party when they are denied a ticket, but he chose to stay with the organisation.
His appointment as Odisha governor now marks another stage in a political career that has included service in the Bihar Assembly, the Lok Sabha and the BJP organisation. The account also highlights the long gap between his earlier parliamentary contests and his latest constitutional responsibility.
Conclusion
Brijmohan Ram's appointment as Odisha governor follows a conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he initially missed after not answering repeated calls from a private number. His political record includes three consecutive Palamu victories and a 22-year period without a Lok Sabha ticket.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Who has been appointed Odisha governor?
Brijmohan Ram has been appointed the new governor of Odisha.
Q. Why did Brijmohan Ram initially miss the calls?
He believed the calls from a private number might have come from an unknown person, so he did not answer.
Q. How many times did the Prime Minister's Office reportedly call?
Ram said the Prime Minister's Office called nearly 10 times before they connected.
Q. What did Narendra Modi say during the call?
Modi greeted Ram with “Johar”, asked about his wellbeing and organisational work, and told him that he would receive a major government responsibility.
Q. When was Brijmohan Ram born?
He was born on 1 January 1958 in Chandwa, in Palamu district of what was then Bihar.
Q. When did Ram win the Palamu Lok Sabha seat?
He won the seat in 1996, 1998 and 1999.
Q. How long did he go without a Lok Sabha ticket?
After 2004, he did not receive a Lok Sabha election ticket for 22 years.
