West Bengal welcomed its new Governor, R.N. Ravi, through a formal oath ceremony Thursday at Raj Bhavan in Kolkata. Timed for 11:30 AM, Justice Sujeev Qasim officiated the swearing-in, replacing the departed C.V. Ananda Bose.
The guest list featured Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Speaker Biman Banerjee, and Left Front’s Biman Bose, underscoring cross-party attendance. Yet, opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari’s no-show, despite an invite, alongside a BJP boycott, sparked widespread surprise and chatter.
Bose’s sudden exit on March 5 prompted Ravi’s rapid elevation; he landed in Kolkata Wednesday as Bose headed to Kerala. In a poignant goodbye, Bose posted an open letter online, affirming his enduring affection for the state.
Ravi’s intel pedigree echoes M.K. Narayanan’s 2011 appointment pre-elections that toppled the Left. As polls approach, this move hints at strategic positioning, with Ravi’s tenure poised to navigate Bengal’s turbulent politics.