In his first remarks since he resigned as the governor of West Bengal, C V Ananda Bose said in a post on X on Friday night that he was shifting to Kerala “to work towards Viksit Bharat”.
Bose had submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu on March 5. R N Ravi, former deputy national security advisor and the present governor of Tamil Nadu, will replace him.
With the West Bengal Assembly elections round the corner, Bose’s resignation had surprised many, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who had said she was “shocked and deeply concerned” about the development.
“My innings in West Bengal is coming to a close. I am deeply indebted to the great people of Bengal for the affection and regards lavished on me. I am shifting to Kerala to work towards Viksit Bharat. I will work under the guidance of the national leadership for achieving the goals of this great mission and do my best to further the cause of our dear Keralam, which is my home state,” Bose wrote on the X handle of Lok Bhavan, Kolkata.
Saying that he was grateful to President Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, Bose added, “I take this new mission as my solemn duty and as a gesture of gratitude to the people of Keralam, who, I would say, brought me up. I will work for the people, with the people, alongside the people.”
He also extended his best wishes to Ravi, calling him his “very dear friend and distinguished public administrator”.
“Tomorrow to fresh woods and pastures anew,” Bose concluded, referencing John Milton’s Lycidas.
He also shared his resignation letter, which did not mention the reason for his resignation.
Bose’s time at Raj Bhavan was marked by a confrontation with the Trinamool Congress-led state government and ups and downs in his relationship with the chief minister.
Though there were a few occasions of bonhomie, on issues of giving consent to bills passed by the Assembly, nominating vice-chancellors of state universities, and law and order, Bose and the Mamata Banerjee government did not see eye to eye.