The central government is considering appointing new governors in place of 10 incumbent ones who have completed their five-year terms. Among these, former Union Minister VK Singh is being considered for the position of Governor of Tamil Nadu, according to sources from the Home Ministry.Although the Indian Constitution does not set a fixed term for governors, Article 156 specifies that they may hold office for five years from the date of their appointment. However, a governor does not automatically lose their position at the end of five years; they continue until the President appoints a successor.
It is customary for governors to be replaced when there is a change in government at the center, though there is no legal provision to remove a governor before the completion of their term. In line with tradition, governors appointed by one government often voluntarily resign when a new government is elected. The ruling party typically appoints governors from its own ranks.
Since the BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, came to power, there has been no significant political change at the center. As a result, many governors have remained in office beyond their five-year term.
For instance, Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi took office in Chennai on September 18, 2021, after serving as the Governor of Meghalaya and Nagaland. His first appointment as governor was on August 1, 2019, meaning his five-year term officially ended three months ago, though he has only served three years as Tamil Naduās governor.
Recently, Chief Minister MK Stalin requested the central government to recall RN Ravi following a controversy involving a Doordarshan event in Chennai. Although Doordarshan apologized for the mishap, Stalin continued to insist on the governorās recall, according to the Home Ministry. The central government is reportedly concerned that removing Ravi now could be perceived as a loss of face for him.
There is speculation that RN Ravi may be transferred to another state, similar to the fate of other governors. VK Singh, a former Union Minister and former Chief of the Indian Army, is being considered as his replacement. Singh is known to be close to senior leaders such as Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
VK Singh has a strong connection with Tamil Nadu, having served as the central party in-charge for the state during the 2021 assembly elections. He also played a key role in managing constituencies such as Vellore, Sivaganga, Kanyakumari, and Tirunelveli during Lok Sabha elections.
The speculation of a governor change comes at a time when relations between the central and state governments appear to be improving. Recently, CM Stalin met Prime Minister Modi, and shortly afterward, the central government announced funding for the second phase of the Chennai Metro Rail project, signaling a newfound cooperation between the two governments.
In a related move, Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudi, who had been distancing himself from Governor Ravi, was replaced by Kovi Chezhian, who has publicly stated his willingness to work in harmony with the governor.
Given this context, the possible appointment of VK Singh as the next Governor of Tamil Nadu is seen as a strategic move by the central government.