New Delhi: Gopalkrishna Gandhi, presently the Indian High Commissioner to South Africa, has been appointed the new Governor of West Bengal.

Gandhi will take over the gubernatorial post from Viren J Shah whose term has expired, a Rashtrapati Bhavan communique said in New Delhi today (Dec 3, 2004).

His appointment will take effect from the day he assumes charge, it added.

Gandhi, who is a grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, has also served as the High Commissioner to Sri Lanka.