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Ahead of Bengal polls, governor CV Ananda Bose resigns; RN Ravi set to take over, says Mamata Banerjee

March 05, 2026 5 min read Polity & Governance GS2 (Polity & Governance Centre-State Relations)
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What Happened

  • West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose resigned on March 5, 2026 via a letter to President Droupadi Murmu, stating that his three-and-a-half year tenure was "enough"
  • President Murmu appointed Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi as the new Governor of West Bengal, effective upon assuming charge
  • Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that Bose was forced to resign "under pressure" from the Union Home Minister to serve political interests ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections (expected April-May 2026)
  • Banerjee further objected to RN Ravi's appointment without consultation with the state government, calling it a violation of constitutional conventions and federal structure
  • Bose's tenure had been marked by frequent friction with the state government, including disputes following the RG Kar case

Static Topic Bridges

Constitutional Provisions on the Governor — Articles 153-162

The office of the Governor is established under Part VI of the Constitution of India. Article 153 mandates a Governor for each state, though one person may serve as Governor of two or more states (7th Constitutional Amendment, 1956). The Governor is appointed by the President under Article 155, which in practice means on the advice of the Union Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister. Under Article 156, the Governor holds office during the pleasure of the President, with a normal term of five years.

  • Article 153: There shall be a Governor for each State (one person may be Governor of two or more States)
  • Article 155: Governor is appointed by the President (by warrant under his hand and seal)
  • Article 156(1): Governor holds office during the pleasure of the President
  • Article 156(3): Governor may resign by writing under his hand addressed to the President
  • Article 157-158: Qualifications — must be citizen of India, minimum 35 years of age, must not hold any office of profit
  • Article 163: Council of Ministers to aid and advise the Governor, except in matters where the Governor exercises discretion
  • Article 164: Chief Minister is appointed by the Governor; other ministers appointed on CM's advice
  • No formal impeachment procedure for Governors (unlike the President under Article 61)

Connection to this news: Bose's resignation under Article 156(3) and the immediate appointment of RN Ravi without consulting the state government illustrates the constitutional design in which the Governor remains a Central appointee — the absence of any consultation requirement with the state remains a recurring friction point in Centre-state relations.

Governor-State Government Conflicts — Constitutional and Political Dimensions

Centre-state friction over the Governor's role has been a persistent feature of Indian federalism, particularly when different parties govern at the Centre and in a state. The Sarkaria Commission (1988) recommended that the Governor should be an eminent person from outside the state and not intimately connected with the local politics of the state. The Punchhi Commission on Centre-State Relations (2010) went further, recommending a fixed five-year tenure and removal only through a resolution by the state legislature.

  • Sarkaria Commission (1988): Recommended that the Governor should be appointed after consultation with the Chief Minister; should be from outside the state; should not be changed on change of government at the Centre
  • Punchhi Commission (2010): Recommended fixed 5-year tenure for Governors; deletion of the phrase "during the pleasure of the President" from Article 156; removal only through state legislature resolution
  • B.P. Singhal v. Union of India (2010): Supreme Court held that the President cannot remove a Governor in an arbitrary, capricious, or unreasonable manner; the power under Article 156(1) must be exercised for valid reasons
  • Rameshwar Prasad v. Union of India (2006): Supreme Court struck down the dissolution of Bihar Assembly on the Governor's recommendation as unconstitutional
  • Nabam Rebia v. Deputy Speaker (2016): Supreme Court restricted the Governor's discretionary powers, holding that the Governor cannot act as an adversary of the elected government

Connection to this news: The replacement of Governor Bose with RN Ravi — a figure perceived by the opposition as politically aligned with the ruling party at the Centre — ahead of a crucial state election reprises the longstanding debate about whether Governors serve as constitutional heads of states or as instruments of Central control, the core concern raised by both the Sarkaria and Punchhi Commissions.

Article 356 — President's Rule and Electoral Context

Article 356 empowers the President to impose President's Rule in a state if satisfied that the governance of the state cannot be carried on in accordance with the Constitution. This provision has been invoked over 120 times since independence, though the Supreme Court in S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994) imposed strict judicial limits on its use.

  • Article 356: President's Rule on the Governor's report that the state government cannot function constitutionally; Parliament must approve within 2 months; can last up to 3 years (with 6-month extensions)
  • S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994): The 9-judge bench held that Article 356 is subject to judicial review; the President's satisfaction must be based on relevant material; the court can restore a dismissed government; the power is not absolute
  • The 44th Constitutional Amendment (1978) limited President's Rule to 1 year without state elections being held
  • In West Bengal's context, speculation about President's Rule emerged due to the SIR (Special Intensive Revision) voter list complications ahead of the 2026 elections

Connection to this news: While no Article 356 action has been taken, the appointment of RN Ravi — previously known for adversarial relations with the Tamil Nadu state government — as Bengal Governor ahead of elections has fuelled political speculation about the possibility of President's Rule, echoing historical patterns where governor changes preceded constitutional interventions.

Key Facts & Data

  • CV Ananda Bose's tenure: ~3.5 years as 21st Governor of West Bengal
  • RN Ravi: Previously Governor of Tamil Nadu, former Deputy National Security Advisor
  • West Bengal Assembly term expires: May 7, 2026; elections expected April-May 2026
  • Article 155: Governor appointed by the President
  • Article 156(1): Governor holds office during the pleasure of the President
  • Article 156(3): Governor may resign by writing to the President
  • Sarkaria Commission (1988) and Punchhi Commission (2010): Key recommendations on Governor's role
  • B.P. Singhal v. Union of India (2010): Governor cannot be removed arbitrarily
  • Article 356 invoked: Over 120 times since independence
  • S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994): Article 356 subject to judicial review