India, March 8 -- In a dramatic late evening reshuffle on Thursday, West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose abruptly resigned, citing health reasons after a tumultuous 3.5-year tenure marked by clashes with the Trinamool Congress government. Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi, known for his confrontational style with Opposition-led state governments, was swiftly appointed as his replacement, igniting fears in TMC circles of intensified Centre-state friction ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. The move, part of a broader gubernatorial overhaul across nine states and union territories, has been interpreted by political observers as a strategic ploy by the BJP-led Centre to tighten grip on poll-bound West Bengal.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, ...