Senior BJP leader Ram Nath Kovind has been appointed as governor of Bihar, and educationist Acharya Dev Vrat has been appointed the Himachal Pradesh governor. Mr Kovind, who had been a two-time Rajya Sabha member between 1994 and 2006, hails from Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh. His appointment comes barely a few months ahead of the Assembly elections in Bihar.<br/><br/>Mr Acharya Dev Vrat has been working as Principal in a Gurukul in Haryana's Kurukshetra. He has been a recipient of American Medal of Honor awarded by American Biographical Institute towards selfless dedication in the field of social service. An official release said the appointments will take effect from the dates the incumbents assume charge of their respective offices.