Braj Mohan Ram (born 1 January 1958) is an Indian politician who has served as the Governor of Odisha since 18 October 2026. President Droupadi Murmu appointed him to the office on 12 October 2026, and he succeeded Kambhampati Hari Babu.
Ram previously served as a member of the Lok Sabha, representing the Palamu constituency for three terms following his election in 1996, 1998 and 1999. He also served as a member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly from 1991 to 1995.
Born in Chandwa, then part of Palamu district in Bihar, Ram graduated from Ranchi University and is an agriculturist by profession. Chandwa is now in Latehar district, Jharkhand, following the creation of the state in 2000.
Early life and education
Ram was born on 1 January 1958 in Chandwa, then in Palamau district of Bihar, India. His parents were Arjun Ram Baitha and Chaiti Devi. Chandwa is now in Latehar district, Jharkhand, following the creation of the state in 2000.
He completed a Bachelor of Arts degree after studying at B.S. College, Lohardaga, which was then in Bihar. His professional occupation has been recorded as agriculturist in parliamentary biographical records.
Political career
Ram entered electoral politics in Bihar and became associated with the BJP. His political career included service in the Bihar Legislative Assembly, three terms in the Lok Sabha and party-related organisational responsibilities. Parliamentary biographical records also list his involvement in committees dealing with social welfare, home affairs, energy, transport and tourism, among other subjects.
Member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly
Ram served as a member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly from 1991 to 1995, representing the Latehar Assembly constituency. During this period, he was also associated with the Assembly's Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Welfare Committee, according to his parliamentary biographical record.
His Assembly tenure took place before the formation of Jharkhand. Latehar was then part of Bihar; it became part of Jharkhand when the new state was created in November 2000.
Member of Parliament
Ram was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Palamu constituency in 1996, 1998 and 1999 as a BJP candidate. He served in the 11th, 12th and 13th Lok Sabhas, representing the constituency across three parliamentary terms.
11th Lok Sabha
Ram was elected to the 11th Lok Sabha in 1996 from Palamu, which was then a constituency in Bihar. During the term, he served on the Committee on Home Affairs and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Welfare Committee. He was also associated with consultative and informal committees connected with the Union ministries of Steel and Mines and the Railways.
12th Lok Sabha
Ram was re-elected to the 12th Lok Sabha in 1998. During this term, he served on the Committee on Energy and its Sub-Committee-I on Power, as well as the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Coal, according to his parliamentary biography.
13th Lok Sabha
Ram was elected for a third term in the 1999 general election. From 1999 to 2000, he served on the Committee on Transport and Tourism and the Committee on Absence of Members from the Sittings of the House. He was also a member of the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Coal and subsequently a permanent special invitee to the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Railways.
His third term continued after Jharkhand was formed in November 2000. Palamu became part of Jharkhand, while the constituency retained its representation in the Lok Sabha.
Political activities after 2004
Ram's parliamentary term ended in 2004. His parliamentary biography records that he served as president of the Vananchal Pradesh Scheduled Caste Morcha in Ranchi during 1996–1998.
In October 2026, contemporary reporting described him as being in charge of the BJP's Scheduled Caste Morcha in Jharkhand when he was appointed Governor of Odisha.
Appointment as Governor of Odisha
On 12 October 2026, President Droupadi Murmu appointed Ram as Governor of Odisha as part of a set of gubernatorial appointments and transfers involving several Indian states. The announcement was issued by the President's Secretariat at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Ram was appointed to succeed Kambhampati Hari Babu, who had served as Governor of Odisha from January 2025. The presidential communiqué specified that the new appointments would take effect from the dates on which the appointees assumed charge of their respective offices. Accordingly, the date of Ram's assumption of office is distinct from the date of his appointment.
Remarks on strengthening the BJP
In October 2026, shortly after his appointment as Governor of Odisha, Braj Mohan Ram drew criticism from opposition parties over remarks about strengthening the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state. In an interview with a news agency in Ranchi, Ram said that he would work to further activate the BJP's Scheduled Caste (SC) Morcha in Odisha and endeavour to secure more votes for the party.
The opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) condemned the reported remarks, questioning Ram's impartiality as a constitutional office-holder. BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said that the comments contradicted the principle that a governor should remain above party politics. The party also released a video published by the Press Trust of India (PTI) in support of its criticism. Ram's remarks were also criticised by Congress leaders, who questioned the appropriateness of expressing partisan political objectives while holding a constitutional office.
Personal life
Ram is married to Leela Devi. Parliamentary records list the couple as having three sons. His recorded profession is agriculturist.
References
12"Press Communique". President of India. 12 October 2026. Retrieved 18 October 2026.
