West Bengal Governor Resigns Ahead of Elections, Major Political Reshuffle Announced

In a surprising political move, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose has resigned just weeks before the Assembly elections, citing personal reasons. His replacement, RN Ravi, along with other significant appointments across various states, marks a major reshuffle in the political landscape. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her shock at the resignation and raised concerns about potential political pressures influencing the decision. This article delves into the implications of these changes and the reactions from key political figures.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 6, 2026, 08:58 IST

Governor CV Ananda Bose Steps Down

On Thursday, Governor CV Ananda Bose announced his resignation, citing personal reasons, and has been succeeded by RN Ravi, the Governor of Tamil Nadu.

With this transition, Kerala's Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has been assigned additional responsibilities for Tamil Nadu.

This reshuffle occurs just weeks before the Assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, as part of a broader reorganization affecting nine states and Union Territories.

New Appointments and Changes

According to a press release from Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Droupadi Murmu appointed retired Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain as the new Governor of Bihar, taking over from Arif Mohammed Khan, who has held the position since January 2025.

Taranjit Singh Sandhu, a former ambassador to the United States, has been named the new Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, succeeding Vinai Kumar Saxena, who will now serve in Ladakh.

Kavinder Gupta, a BJP leader and former deputy chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, has been appointed as the Governor of Himachal Pradesh, replacing Shiv Pratap Shukla, who will move to Telangana.

Governor Jishnu Dev Varma will transition from Telangana to Maharashtra, while Nand Kishore Yadav, a former Bihar Assembly speaker, has been designated as the new Governor of Nagaland.

The President's Secretariat confirmed that these appointments will take effect once the new governors assume their roles.

Political Reactions to Bose's Resignation

In response to Bose's resignation, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her shock and concern, stating that she was unaware of the reasons behind his departure.

Banerjee suggested that Bose may have faced pressure from Union Home Minister Amit Shah to align with certain political agendas ahead of the upcoming state elections.

She also claimed that Shah had informed her of Ravi's appointment as the new governor and criticized the decision for being made without consulting the state government, which she argued undermines constitutional principles and federalism.

Bose had previously faced criticism from BJP leaders for his perceived leniency towards the Trinamool Congress government, with some party members questioning his closeness to the chief minister.