The Chief Justice of Bombay High Court Mohit Shah administered the oath of office to her at Durbar hall of the Raj Bhavan in presence of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, three cabinet ministers — Laxmikant Parsekar, Ramkrishna Sudin Dhavalikar and Pandurang Deepak Dhavalikar, Leader of Opposition Pratapsing Rane, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Chief John Fernandes and others.
In her brief interaction with media persons after the ceremony, Alva, said she is happy to be associated with Goa again. “I am very happy to be back in Goa. I have been associated with Goa since the 70s. I have spent so many holidays with my friends here, so coming back to Goa is like coming back to the place where I belong. I love Goa,” she said.
While in active politics, Alva was earlier the Congress Party’s Goa desk in charge.
Responding to a question whether she wants Goa as her permanent posting, she said it was for the government to decide. “I have (charge of) three States now. I am looking after Gujarat, Rajasthan and Goa. It is for the government to decide where they want me,” she said adding that she will leave for Rajasthan early Sunday morning since the State government there will present the budget in the Rajasthan assembly and she has to sign the papers.
Ex-governor Wanchoo had resigned on July 4, after CBI officials from Mumbai had quizzed him in VVIP AgustaWestland chopper deal case. He was appointed as Goa Governor on May 4, 2012.
In 1974, Alva was elected to the Rajya Sabha and continued to be a member of that House till 1999. Thereafter she was a member of Lok Sabha from 1999 to 2004. In 1991, she was appointed Union Minister of State for Personnel, Pensions, Public Grievances and Administrative Reforms (attached to the Prime Minister). She also Minister for Science & Technology for a brief period.
Prior to that, Alva was appointed Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs in the Rajiv Gandhi Government in 1984, later moving to the Ministry of Human Resource Development in charge of Youth Affairs and Sports, Women and Child Development.
Alva, after completing five years as AICC General Secretary was appointed Governor of Uttarakhand in 2009, and later as Rajasthan Governor in 2012.
