From Tamil Nadu to West Bengal: How governor RN Ravi’s transfer impacts two poll-bound states | India News

NEW DELHI: Is the BJP converting Raj Bhavans into “war rooms”? Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress thinks so, especially after the Centre’s move to shift Tamil Nadu governor RN Ravi from Tamil Nadu to West Bengal. Appointment and transfer of governors is a routine administrative decision, but when the change involves poll-bound states, allegations of political motives driving the decision is a given. Ironically, the ruling BJP has high stakes in both Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, states which go to polls in some months. In West Bengal, the BJP is going all out to oust Mamata-led Trinamool Congress government, while in Tamil Nadu, the saffron party has played a key role in stitching anti-DMK coalition alongwith its ally the AIADMK.Why has R N Ravi’s transfer evoked strong reactions?RN Ravi’s tenure in Tamil Nadu has been eventful. As the governor of the state, Ravi, a former deputy national security adviser, was frequently locked in public battles with the M K Stalin-led DMK government over different issues. Little wonder the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal has reacted to this change with alarm. DMK MP P Wilson’s reaction sums it all up: “I am sad on two counts-firstly that DMK is losing a star campaigner in the upcoming elections. R N Ravi was a constant reminder of the BJP’s intentions with Tamil Nadu. Secondly, I am sad for the people of West Bengal and my good friends at the All India Trinamool Congress. Wherever he (R N Ravi) goes, the casualty is the Constitution, federal structure and parliamentary democracy,” the DMK’s Rajya Sabha member wrote on X.Senior political analyst R Kannan welcomed the transfer of R N Ravi. “He was on a stiff confrontational course with the state government and some things that he insisted on like playing the national anthem at the beginning of the assembly session were completely off. Some things like the inadequacy of college teachers were apt. A mixed performance but welcome departure,” he said.The Trinamool leaders have been quick to attack the BJP for this “unilateral decision.” TMC’s deputy leader in Rajya Sabha Sagarika Ghose alleged: “By unilaterally appointing a new governor for Bengal, the Modi government again displays its contempt for constitutional federalism. Raj Bhavans becoming BJP war rooms.” Why DMK MP called RN Ravi party’s star campaignerR N Ravi, who took charge as the 26th governor of Tamil Nadu in 2021, a few months after the DMK govt led by M K Stalin assumed office, had a tumultuous tenure in the state marked by recurrent confrontations with the state govt. Ravi walked out of the assembly without delivering the customary address for the fourth consecutive time this year, alleging disrespect for the national anthem. The governor sat on several bills passed by the assembly prompting the state government to move the Supreme Court. There were differences over the appointment of vice-chancellors leading to a situation where 14 out of 22 universities in the state were without a head for periods ranging from one to three years.Then there were policy-driven fights like over the National Education Policy.And while all these issues impacted the ruling DMK, what the BJP and its ally the AIADMK perhaps would have been worried about is the many confrontations that RN Ravi had with the state government over his remarks on Dravidian ideology and its icons. That perhaps explains why MP P Wilson said that DMK had lost a star campaigner. Perhaps, not just the DMK, but also the AIADMK would be relieved with this change.Why is the Trinamool worriedFor the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, confrontation with governors has been a part of its politics for long. It started with Jagdeep Dhankar, who as governor of West Bengal had frequent run-ins with the Mamata government. Then came C V Ananda Bose. After a brief period of bonhomie, his tenure was also filled with confrontations over various issues. Now, with R N Ravi and his track record of confrontations with the DMK government, the Trinamool Congress would be ready for another round of turbulence. The BJP, as expected, has welcomed Ravi’s appointment. Senior West Bengal BJP leader Dilip Ghosh made an interesting remark when he said that the change in Governor should not automatically be interpreted as a step towards the imposition of President’s Rule even while suggesting that the situation in the state could lead to such an outcome if conditions worsen.“New Governor is coming, and we welcome him. We are happy that an IPS officer is taking the position of Governor. The law and order situation in Bengal is in a very poor state, and we hope it will improve under his supervision,” Ghosh told news agency IANS.“If President’s Rule is to be imposed in West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee cannot stop it. But if the Governor is changed, it does not necessarily mean that President’s Rule has been imposed. However, because of their attitude, President’s Rule could happen. The way the SIR process has been disturbed and delayed, and the lack of cooperation from their employees has led to violence,” he said.The remarks partially explain why the Trinamool has reacted aggressively to the new appointment. Already, chief minister Mamata Banerjee has claimed that outgoing governor Bose may have been pressured by Union home minister Amit Shah to “serve certain political interests” ahead of the assembly polls.Can governor act independently of elected state governmentThe Constitution grants dual roles to the governor. The governor is the executive head of a state (Article 154) and also the constitutional representative of the Centre. They act as the nominal head, normally acting on the advice of the chief minister and the council of ministers (Article 163), but they possess discretionary powers.Article 163 reads: “There shall be a Council of Ministers with the Chief Minister at the head to aid and advise the Governor in the exercise of his functions, except in so far as he is by or under this Constitution required to exercise his functions or any of them in his discretion.” Clearly, the governor has discretionary powers. Supreme Court lawyer and constitutional expert Gyanant Singh says “There is no doubt that the governor has powers to act independently of the state government under certain circumstances. However, this power should not be misused as is happening in recent times.”“If you look at the text of the oath of office which a governor takes, it is different from that of the political executive in so far it says the governor will act to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and the law,” Gyanant Singh says.The oath is similar to what the President and the judges of the Supreme Court take. Whereas for the political executive, the oath talks of acting in accordance with the Constitution,” The oath of office of Union ministers reads: “That I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India, that I will faithfully and conscientiously discharge my duties as a Minister for the Union and that I will do right to all manner of people in accordance with the Constitution and the law, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.”Clearly, the Constitution gives the governor discretionary powers. But when this discretion appears to favour the party ruling at the Centre, it leads to political controversy and allegations of misuse of the post. The state governments have always demanded a say in the appointment of governors. The Sarkaria and Punchhi Commissions have made recommendations to this effect. But clearly no political party has the will to implement these recommendations. So, this political tussle is unlikely to end any time soon.