Why Raj Bhavan reset caused a stir in poll-bound West Bengal, Tamil Nadu

RN Ravi made headlines over his differences with the DMK government led by MK Stalin.

• RN Ravi replaces CV Ananda Bose as West Bengal Governor
• Governors reshuffled across multiple states and UTs
• Rajendra Arlekar appointed Tamil Nadu Governor amid tensions

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Ahead of the Tamil Nadu and West Bengal Assembly elections, President Droupadi Murmu appointed RN Ravi as the new Governor of West Bengal. Ravi, the current Governor of Tamil Nadu, will take over from CV Ananda Bose who resigned on Thursday.

The Rashtrapati Bhavan also announced a major gubernatorial reshuffle involving several states and Union Territories, including Delhi, Ladakh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland.

The Centre’s decision to place experienced administrators and diplomats in crucial states signals a focus on governance and security rather than ceremonial leadership.

RN Ravi’s Bengal mission

In West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is gearing up for a tough contest against the BJP signalling an intense electoral fight ahead.

Banerjee claimed that she had not been consulted before the appointment.

“The reasons behind his resignation are not known to me at this moment. However, given the prevailing circumstances, I would not be surprised if the Governor has been subjected to some pressure from the Union Home Minister to serve certain political interests on the eve of the forthcoming State Assembly elections," Banerjee said in a post on X.

Ravi is a former IPS officer and seasoned interlocutor known for his firm stance on constitutional propriety.

His arrival in Kolkata comes as West Bengal enters the final phase before the Assembly elections. In a state where relations between the Governor’s office and the state government have often turned contentious, the Centre appears to be positioning a strong “constitutional enforcer”.

Ties between the Raj Bhavan and the state government worsened following allegations of sexual harassment made by a contractual woman employee against the Governor in May last year.

Bose is said to have cited health issues as the reason for quitting.  However, Raj Bhavan insiders gave a couple of “reasons” for Bose’s decision. According to a report by Times of India, ill health and frustration over not being allowed to work by the state administration had driven his decision.

“It was also becoming increasingly clear in Bengal’s political circles that Bose’s recent non-confrontational approach was not entirely to the liking of the local BJP brass. He was stymied not by the state administration but by his own actions and inaction,” a BJP senior leader told TOI.

Tamil Nadu governor

Rajendra Arlekar replaced R N Ravi as the Governor of Tamil Nadu amid long-running tensions between the Raj Bhavan and Chief Minister MK Stalin. Ravi repeatedly clashed with the DMK government in Tamil Nadu over a range of issues.

Ravi’s decision to withhold assent to several bills passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly led the state to approach the Supreme Court, which in a landmark ruling last year termed his actions “illegal” and “arbitrary".

The move could help cool tensions in Tamil Nadu before the elections while allowing the Centre to reposition its administrative influence in another politically charged state. The BJP has never won an assembly election or secured a majority on its own in Tamil Nadu.