Announcing the appointments, a Rasthrapati Bhavan communique said Bihar Governor A R Kidwai will be shifted as Governor of West Bengal while senior Akali Dal leader Darbara Singh will be the new Rajasthan Governor.

Andhra Pradesh Governor C Rangarajan will hold additional charge of Orissa.

The communique said President K R Narayanan, on the advice of Prime Minister A B Vajpayee, has not accepted the resignation of the Lt Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands I P Gupta who has been requested to continue in the same post.