R.N. Ravi took oath as West Bengal governor on Thursday, replacing outgoing governor C.V. Ananda Bose, who resigned last week without giving specific reasons for stepping down. His appointment comes at a politically sensitive time, with the state heading toward a crucial assembly election and amid a long history of friction between the governor’s office and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
The relationship between Banerjee and Bose had been comparatively cordial compared to the state government’s ties with several previous governors.
In an interview with THE WEEK last November, Bose had described his relationship with Mamata as respectful and professional. "I have maintained a very cordial, mutually respectful relation with my esteemed Constitutional colleague, the chief minister. In personal matters, I am very happy we are able to maintain that bonhomie. In official matters as governor and chief minister, we have a professional relation," he said.
However, Bose’s abrupt resignation has raised questions. Speaking during her Special Intensive Revision (SIR) dharna on March 7, Banerjee hinted that the departure may not have been entirely voluntary. “Have you seen how C.V. Ananda Bose was removed? I know everything. He was threatened. They want to distribute money from Lok Bhavan. They want Lok Bhavan to be converted into a BJP party office. But everybody may not agree to such whims and fancies of Delhi," the CM said.
After ending the protest on March 10, Banerjee met Bose at the government-run Soujanya guest house a day before his departure from Kolkata. She described him as an "erudite and distinguished individual" and acknowledged their discussions on the welfare of the state.
Bose had often spoken about his emotional connection with Bengal, citing the influence of freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose on his family. His admiration for the leader was so strong that his family adopted the surname "Bose". He had even shifted his voter registration to West Bengal shortly before stepping down, calling the state his "second home", Given this background, his sudden resignation surprised many.
Relations between Banerjee and Bose were not entirely without controversy. In mid-2024, the chief minister accused him of sexual harassment involving a female staff member and of forcing employees to work late hours. Bose dismissed the allegations, calling them "dirty politics."
Political analyst Udayan Bandhyopadhyay said, "There is a long history in Bengal of clashes between the governor and the state government which has percolated to other states too... I think what she had done in the case of C.V. Ananda Bose is nothing new."
Mamata attends R.N. Ravi’s oath-taking ceremony
Governor Ravi was given the guard of honour at Lok Bhavan before he took oath administered by Sujoy Paul, Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court. He held the same post in Tamil Nadu for 54 months. He has also been the governor of Meghalaya and Nagaland. Mamata, Assembly speaker Biman Banerjee, Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim and Left Front Chairman Biman Bose were present at the oath-taking ceremony on Thursday, though no senior BJP Bengal BJP leaders were present.
“Ravi doesn’t have a very good reputation as governor in Tamil Nadu. He had many clashes with the DMK government, regarding vice chancellor appointments in universities. He is a tough man,” added Bandhyopadhyay.
With a high-stakes Assembly election approaching and a tough contest between the TMC and BJP on the cards, experts suggest that the new governor appointment is a calculated move.
“It was a calculated move to disturb the Mamata Government. Ravi is a tough man and known to create more problems for the state government. Instead of a weak governor who is compromised on a weak case of sexual harassment charges in the past which has not yet been disposed off,” said Professor Maidul Islam, professor of political science, The Centre for Studies In Social Sciences.
“If the SIR exercise takes more time for logical discrepancy cases to clear before April with 10 lakh cases of the 60 lakh cases having been cleared so far, then the state has a chance of President’s Rule," he added. “The Delhi leadership is keeping short and long-term options open in case President’s Rule is imposed in West Bengal as the new government has to be formed by May 5. In the long term, if the TMC government comes into power, then Ravi will play a tough role.”
West Bengal is expected to go to polls in April amid speculations of several names being left out of the voter list apart from the 60 lakh voters who have been left off the final SIR list released on February 28. Around 60 lakh names are currently under the adjudication category with the Election Commission of India (ECI) looking to dispose of cases with judicial officers being appointed to look into these cases.