Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 8 (IANS) A veteran former politician, M.O.H. Farook was Thursday sworn in as the 18th governor of Kerala.


Kerala High Court Chief Justice J. Chelmeswar administered the oath of office and secrecy to the three-time chief minister of the union territory of Puducherry as Kerala's governor.

Farook, who was the governor of Jharkhand, was moved in to replace former Kerala governor R.S. Gavai, whose term got over Wednesday.

The ceremony took place at Raj Bhavan, the official residence of the Kerala governor, here.

It was attended by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, his cabinet colleagues and other top officials.

Farook was thrice elected to the Lok Sabha - 1991, 1996 and 1999. He served as the union minister of state for civil aviation and tourism from June 1991 to December 1992.

As a student, he participated in the struggle for liberation of Puducherry from France during 1953-54.