Chennai: Tamil Nadu Governor R.N.Ravi walked out of the State Legislative Assembly for the third time over what he called “an insult to the national anthem”, triggering a fresh row with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led government.
The walkout came within minutes of the assembly session commencing Tuesday, as the Governor declined to read the address prepared and approved by the government. Ravi had previously walked out of the House without reading the customary speech earlier in 2024 and 2025.
In a statement, the Governor’s office said that the microphone was switched off repeatedly, preventing Ravi from speaking. He also alleged that the address contained unsubstantiated and misleading claims.
Chief Minister M.K.Stalin termed the Governor’s action a “direct insult to the Assembly, its traditions, and the democratic mandate of the people of Tamil Nadu”. It is an established custom for the Governor to read a statement outlining the government’s policies at the beginning of an assembly session.
Raising the issue on the floor of the House, Stalin said the Governor’s conduct violated established constitutional protocol. “This action disrespects the House. It goes against the conventions and dignity of this 100-year-old Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly,” he said in the assembly.
Invoking DMK founder C.N.Annadurai, Stalin recalled the former chief minister’s famous remark, “Why does a goat need a beard, and why does a state need a Governor?”
At the same time, Stalin clarified that neither Annadurai nor former chief minister M. Karunanidhi had ever disrespected the constitutional office of the Governor.
“Both Anna and Kalaignar, despite ideological differences, upheld the dignity of the Governor’s post. We too have followed the same path and never acted against the institution,” he said.
Stalin expressed disappointment over the Governor’s “repeated pattern of confrontation”.
Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Assembly adopted a resolution rejecting the Governor’s refusal to deliver the address. The House resolved that it does not accept the Governor’s action of leaving without reading the customary speech and the address prepared for the Governor would be deemed as having been delivered.
Within hours, the Lok Bhavan issued a statement explaining that the Governor walked out of the assembly as “the national anthem is yet again insulted and the fundamental constitutional duty disregarded.”
“MSME sectors are under huge stress due to visible and invisible costs of running the industry. They are the crucial sector for employment and growth. However, as against over 55 million registered MSMEs in the country Tamil Nadu has only about 4 million despite enormous potential for growth,” the governor’s office alleged.
“Entrepreneurs from Tamil Nadu are forced to locate their enterprises in other states. The issue is completely ignored.”
Later, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) criticized the recent walkout of Governor R.N.Ravi from the Assembly, alleging that he is being used as a “political propaganda secretary” by the opposition.
“They want to use the governor as a political propaganda secretary… They will not allow him to complete his speech, or he will make some controversial statement and walk out of the house,” TVK spokesperson Felix Gerald said.
“We can also expect some glorified statements from the government and some announcements aimed at the election,” he added.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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