Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata

Kolkata, Mar 5: In a surprising development ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, C. V. Ananda Bose on Thursday resigned as the governor of West Bengal.

Bose, who is currently in New Delhi, submitted his resignation to the office of President Droupadi Murmu. While there was no immediate official confirmation from the governor’s office at the time of reporting, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee publicly confirmed the development.

According to Banerjee, she was informed about the resignation by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who also indicated that the current Tamil Nadu Governor, R. N. Ravi, would be appointed as the new Governor of West Bengal. However, it remains unclear whether Ravi will take charge as acting Governor or as a full-time replacement.

Expressing surprise over the sudden development, Banerjee said she was “shocked and deeply concerned” by the news and added that the reasons behind Bose’s resignation were not known to her.

The Chief Minister also alleged that the Governor might have been subjected to pressure to step down ahead of the state elections. She further claimed that the Union Home Minister had not consulted her regarding the appointment of a new Governor, which she said deviated from established conventions.

“The Centre must respect the principles of cooperative federalism and avoid unilateral decisions that undermine democratic conventions and the dignity of states,” Banerjee said in her statement shared on social media.

Bose assumed office as the Governor of West Bengal on November 17, 2022, and his tenure was scheduled to run until November 2027. However, his resignation comes about 20 months before the completion of his term.

During his tenure, Bose had been vocal on several state issues and had publicly criticised multiple policies of the West Bengal government, often leading to friction with the state administration.