KOLKATA: CV Ananda Bose has resigned as the governor of West Bengal, triggering a fresh political controversy in the state just days before the expected announcement of the assembly election schedule. The sudden development came on Thursday evening while Bose was in New Delhi, adding a new layer of uncertainty to the already charged pre-election atmosphere in Bengal. Confirming the move, Bose told PTI over the phone: “Yes, I have resigned. I have been the Governor of Bengal for three-and-a-half years; it’s enough for me.” However, he did not elaborate on the reasons behind his abrupt decision, fuelling speculation in political circles as his tenure was due to continue until November 2027. Officials at Lok Bhavan said the resignation letter had been sent to Rashtrapati Bhavan from Delhi.
Mamata Banerjee’s 1st reaction
Mamata Banerjee said she was “shocked and deeply concerned” by the sudden exit and suggested that there may have been political pressure behind the move. In a post on X, Banerjee said she was not certain about the reasons for the resignation but hinted at possible involvement of Amit Shah. “However, given the prevailing circumstances, I would not be surprised if the Governor has been subjected to some pressure from the Union Home Minister to serve certain political interests on the eve of the forthcoming state assembly elections,” Banerjee said. She added that she had been informed by Shah that R. N. Ravi would hold additional charge as Bengal governor after Bose’s exit. “I have learnt from Union Home Minister (Amit Shah) that RN Ravi will replace CV Ananda Bose as Bengal governor,” she said. Banerjee also alleged that although Shah informed her about the change, she was not consulted before the decision was taken “as per the established convention in this regard”. “The Centre must respect the principles of cooperative federalism and refrain from taking unilateral decisions that erode democratic conventions and the dignity of states,” she added.
BJP dismisses allegations
Samik Bhattacharya dismissed Banerjee’s remarks, calling them baseless. “Changes in Raj Bhawan are a routine affair. I have heard that he has resigned on health grounds. I have nothing to say about it. The TMC is just trying to politicise the issue,” he said.
Turbulent tenure
Bose took charge as governor on November 17, 2022. His resignation comes nearly 20 months before the end of his term, making him the second consecutive Bengal governor to leave the post before completing a full tenure. His time in office saw repeated confrontations between Raj Bhavan — now called Lok Bhavan — and the Banerjee government, with the governor frequently criticising state policies and clashing with the ruling Trinamool Congress. At times, the friction spilled into the public domain, reflecting the broader political tensions between the governor’s office and the state secretariat at Nabanna. Bose had also drawn attention for attempting to connect with Bengal culturally and politically. He took part in “haatekhori”, the traditional Bengali initiation ceremony for learning the alphabet, and once expressed a desire to become the state’s “adopted son”. He had also sought to shift his voting rights from Kerala to West Bengal.
Exit before crucial polls
The resignation comes at a sensitive political moment, with the Election Commission of India expected to soon announce the schedule for the West Bengal assembly elections, setting up a high-stakes contest between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party. The development also brings back memories of the departure of Bose’s predecessor, Jagdeep Dhankhar, who left the governor’s post in 2022 after being elected vice president before later resigning from that office. With Bose stepping down ahead of the likely April elections, the relationship between Lok Bhavan and Nabanna may once again become a major political talking point in Bengal’s polarised electoral landscape.
