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Days ahead of polls, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal to get new Governors

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

  • The President of India appointed R.N. Ravi, the outgoing Governor of Tamil Nadu, as the new Governor of West Bengal on March 6, 2026, replacing C.V. Ananda Bose
  • Rajendra Arlekar, Governor of Kerala, was given additional charge of Tamil Nadu
  • R.N. Ravi was sworn in as West Bengal's 22nd Governor on March 12, 2026, with the oath administered by Calcutta High Court Chief Justice Sujoy Paul at Lok Bhavan (formerly Raj Bhavan), Kolkata
  • The appointment came days ahead of Assembly elections scheduled in both West Bengal and Tamil Nadu in April 2026
  • West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed concern, stating the state government was not consulted before the appointment
  • R.N. Ravi, a former IPS officer, had served as Governor of Tamil Nadu for approximately 54 months and was previously Governor of Nagaland and Meghalaya

Static Topic Bridges

Constitutional Provisions on the Governor -- Articles 153-162

The office of the Governor is established under Part VI of the Constitution (The States). The Governor is the constitutional head of the state, appointed by the President (Article 155), and holds office during the pleasure of the President (Article 156). The Governor acts on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers (Article 163), except in matters requiring discretionary exercise.

  • Article 153: There shall be a Governor for each State (though the 7th Amendment Act, 1956 allows one person to be Governor of two or more states)
  • Article 155: Governor appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal
  • Article 156(1): Governor holds office "during the pleasure of the President" -- no fixed security of tenure
  • Article 156(3): Term of five years from the date of entering office, subject to the pleasure doctrine
  • Article 157-158: Qualifications -- citizen of India, at least 35 years of age; must not hold any office of profit; not be a member of Parliament or State Legislature
  • Article 159: Oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution
  • Article 161: Power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites, or remissions of punishment
  • Article 163: Governor to act on the aid and advice of Council of Ministers, except in discretionary matters
  • Article 164(1): Chief Minister appointed by the Governor; other ministers appointed on CM's advice
  • Article 200: Governor can withhold assent to a bill or reserve it for President's consideration

Connection to this news: The transfer of R.N. Ravi illustrates the "pleasure doctrine" under Article 156 -- Governors serve at the will of the Centre, and can be moved or replaced without consulting the state government or any requirement of cause.

Governor Appointment Reforms -- Sarkaria and Punchhi Commissions

The politicization of Governor appointments has been a persistent Centre-State friction point in Indian federalism. Two major commissions have recommended reforms to make the appointment process more transparent and less partisan.

  • Sarkaria Commission (1983-88): recommended that the Prime Minister should consult the Vice President and Speaker of the Lok Sabha before appointing a Governor, to enhance credibility; Governor should be an eminent person from outside the state; Governor should not be removed before completing the 5-year term except in rare circumstances
  • Punchhi Commission (2007-10): recommended that the Governor should be a "distinguished person" not involved in active politics for at least two years before appointment; proposed a fixed 5-year tenure with removal based on an impartial process rather than Central discretion; suggested the state Chief Minister should be consulted before appointment (though not a veto)
  • B.P. Singhal v. Union of India (2010): Supreme Court held that the President's power to remove a Governor is not absolute -- it cannot be exercised arbitrarily, capriciously, or unreasonably, though the Governor has no right to hearing before removal
  • Neither commission's recommendations on Governor reform have been fully implemented
  • The NCRWC (National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution, 2002) also recommended that the Governor should be appointed by the President in consultation with the Chief Minister of the state

Connection to this news: The transfer of R.N. Ravi without consulting the West Bengal government highlights the continued non-implementation of the Sarkaria and Punchhi Commission recommendations on Governor appointments and the Centre's unilateral control over this constitutional office.

Governor-state government conflicts have intensified in recent years, particularly in states governed by parties in opposition to the ruling party at the Centre. These disputes typically revolve around bill assent, university appointments (Chancellor role), and the Governor's public statements on state governance.

  • Article 200 disputes: Governors have withheld assent to state bills for extended periods in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Punjab, and Telangana; Supreme Court in State of Punjab v. Principal Secretary to the Governor (2023) held that the Governor cannot exercise a "pocket veto" by indefinitely withholding assent
  • Chancellor controversies: Governors serve as ex-officio Chancellors of state universities in most states; disputes over Vice-Chancellor appointments have erupted in Kerala, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu
  • R.N. Ravi's tenure in Tamil Nadu was marked by public disagreements with the DMK government, including refusal to read the government's address in the state Assembly and disputes over bill assent
  • Article 356 (President's Rule): Governor's report is a key trigger -- Sarkaria Commission recommended it should be used only as a "last resort"; S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994) made imposition of President's Rule subject to judicial review
  • Constitutional expert recommendations: several scholars advocate making the Governor an elected position or at minimum establishing a collegium-based appointment mechanism

Connection to this news: The pre-election transfer of a Governor known for confrontational relations with the outgoing state government to another opposition-ruled state underscores the structural tension between the Governor's constitutional role as a neutral head and the political realities of Central control over the appointment.

Key Facts & Data

  • R.N. Ravi: appointed Governor of West Bengal on March 6, 2026; sworn in March 12, 2026; previously Governor of Tamil Nadu (approximately 54 months), Nagaland, and Meghalaya
  • Replaced: C.V. Ananda Bose as West Bengal Governor
  • Article 155: Governor appointed by the President by warrant under hand and seal
  • Article 156(1): Governor holds office "during the pleasure of the President"
  • Article 156(3): Five-year term, subject to pleasure doctrine
  • Sarkaria Commission: 1983-88; recommended PM consult VP and Speaker before appointing Governor
  • Punchhi Commission: 2007-10; recommended fixed 5-year tenure with impartial removal process; nominee not active in politics for 2 years
  • B.P. Singhal v. Union of India (2010): removal cannot be arbitrary, though no hearing required