In a development that has stirred political discussions ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal, Governor C. V. Ananda Bose resigned from his post on Thursday and submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi.
According to sources in Raj Bhavan, the President has accepted his resignation. The exact reason behind his sudden decision remains unclear.
Bose, a retired 1977-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Kerala cadre, had assumed office as the Governor of West Bengal on November 17, 2022. His tenure was scheduled to continue until November 2027. However, his resignation nearly 20 months before the completion of his term has triggered speculation in political circles, especially with the state heading toward Assembly elections expected in April-May.
Sources said the resignation was sent to Rashtrapati Bhavan while Bose was in New Delhi. Raj Bhavan officials confirmed the development on Thursday but did not provide a specific reason for his departure.
Reacting to the sudden shift, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she was unaware of the decision and alleged that the Ministry of Home Affairs had not informed her about the development.
“I should have been informed, but the MHA kept me in the dark. This is an assault on the country’s federal structure,” she said.
Reacting to the Chief Minister’s remarks, Shamik Bhattacharya, the state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party in West Bengal, said that “finding conspiracy has become the Chief Minister’s habit.”
The sudden move has intensified discussions in both Kolkata and New Delhi regarding the possible political implications of the change in the gubernatorial office at a crucial time in the state’s political calendar.
Over the past several months, Raj Bhavan had witnessed frequent friction with the state government over various administrative matters and the clearance of bills, adding to the tense political atmosphere in West Bengal.
Meanwhile, according to sources, R. N. Ravi, the Governor of Tamil Nadu, is likely to be given additional charge as the Governor-in-charge of West Bengal for the time being. Officials are yet to announce when a full-time governor will be appointed to the post.
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