Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, the Governor of Kerala, assumed office at Raj Bhavan, Chennai, on 12 March 2026 to additionally discharge the functions of the Governor of Tamil Nadu. The oath was administered by Madras High Court Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari, who had been sworn in as the 55th Chief Justice of the court earlier in March. Hailing from Goa, Mr. Arlekar became Kerala Governor in January 2025. Former Governor R.N. Ravi, who took office in Tamil Nadu on 18 September 2021, left the State on 11 March 2026 and has been appointed Governor of West Bengal.