RN Ravi has resigned as the Governor of Tamil Nadu and has been appointed as the new Governor of West Bengal as part of a series of gubernatorial appointments and transfers announced by the President of India.
Following his resignation and reassignment, Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, the Governor of Kerala, has been directed to discharge the functions of the Governor of Tamil Nadu until further arrangements are made.
The development comes months ahead of the next Tamil Nadu Assembly election scheduled for 2026. The reshuffle of Governors has drawn attention in the state as political preparations for the Assembly elections are already underway.
Major Reshuffle
The announcement was part of a wider reshuffle involving several states and Union Territories.
Vinai Kumar Saxena, who has been serving as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, has been appointed as the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh. Former Indian diplomat Taranjit Singh Sandhu has been appointed as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi.
In another change, Kavinder Gupta, the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, has been appointed as the Governor of Himachal Pradesh.
Shiv Pratap Shukla, the Governor of Himachal Pradesh, has been appointed as the Governor of Telangana. Meanwhile, Jishnu Dev Varma, the Governor of Telangana, has been appointed as the Governor of Maharashtra.
Nand Kishore Yadav has been appointed as the Governor of Nagaland, while retired Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain has been appointed as the Governor of Bihar.
RN Ravi’s Differences With the State Government
RN Ravi had been serving as the Governor of Tamil Nadu since September 2021, and his tenure was frequently marked by political and administrative disagreements with the state government led by Chief Minister M. K. Stalin of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).
During this period, relations between the Governor’s office and the state administration remained strained over several constitutional and legislative matters. The Tamil Nadu government repeatedly accused the Governor of delaying assent to multiple Bills passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. These delays became a major point of contention between the elected government and the Raj Bhavan.
Tensions escalated further over public remarks and official communications. One of the most notable incidents occurred in January 2023, when Governor Ravi walked out of the Assembly during the customary address. The situation arose after the state government directed that certain portions of the Governor’s prepared speech, reportedly containing remarks critical of the state administration and references to ideological themes, be omitted while it was being read in the House. The unprecedented episode drew national attention and intensified the political standoff.
The dispute eventually reached the judiciary, with the Tamil Nadu government approaching the Supreme Court of India over alleged delays by the Governor in granting assent to Bills passed by the Assembly. The matter sparked wider legal and constitutional debates regarding the role, powers, and timelines associated with Governors in India’s federal system.
Interim Arrangement in Tamil Nadu
Until a permanent appointment is announced, Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar will discharge the functions of the Governor of Tamil Nadu in addition to his current responsibilities as the Governor of Kerala. Such temporary arrangements are not uncommon when gubernatorial changes take place, particularly during broader administrative reshuffles.
The Union government is expected to announce a full-time Governor for Tamil Nadu in the coming weeks. The appointment will be closely watched given the political significance of the state and the ongoing discussions about the role of Governors in India’s federal framework.
– Magizh
