Outgoing Governor Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare left for New Delhi on Sunday. The police gave a guard of honour to him in the presence of Chief Secretary BK Patnaik, DGP Prakash Mishra, Home Secretary UN Behera and Police Commissioner Sunil Ray.
Earlier, Chief minister Naveen Patnaik met Bhandare at the Raj Bhavan to bid him farewell. Describing his days in the State as "most memorable", Bhandare said, "I have all along tried to make people of Odisha happy, but they have made me happier."
An emotional Bhandare, in his final message to the people of the State, said he acted as guardian of everyone and looked after their wellbeing.
Bhandare, who had assumed office on August 21, 2007, completed his five-year term onAugust 20, 2012. But due to the delay in appointment of his successor, his term had been extended by seven months.
New Governor Senayangba Chubatoshi Jamir would arrive here on Tuesday and take oath of office on Thursday, said sources. A five-time Chief Minister of Nagaland, Jamir had also held the office of Governor in Maharashtra and Goa.