Tamil Nadu Governor Sparks Uproar with Assembly Walkout
Chaos erupted inside the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Tuesday. Governor R N Ravi staged a dramatic walkout without delivering his customary address at the start of the session. He cited serious inaccuracies in the speech text prepared by the ruling DMK government. This marked the fourth such walkout by Governor Ravi since he took office in 2021.
National Anthem Dispute Triggers Immediate Confrontation
The tense episode began as soon as the session commenced. Governor Ravi arrived to address the House, with leaders from multiple political parties in attendance. He immediately demanded that the national anthem be played after the Tamil anthem. When Speaker M Appavu refused this request, the Governor chose to exit the chamber. He left without reading the prepared opening address.
As the Governor departed, MLAs from the ruling DMK and its alliance partners stood up. They raised loud slogans, creating a din that drowned out all other sound. The commotion made clear comprehension impossible within the House.
Chief Minister Stalin Launches Sharp Rebuke
Chief Minister M K Stalin reacted swiftly and strongly. He accused the Governor of walking out yet again in violation of rules, traditions and ethos. Stalin stated such conduct was unbecoming of the high constitutional office Ravi holds. He called the walkout a direct insult to the House and its dignity. The Chief Minister asserted that the Governor's actions insulted the 100-year-old Assembly itself.
Stalin invoked a famous remark by former Chief Minister C N Annadurai. He quoted, Why does a goat need a beard, and why does a state need a governor? This highlighted long-standing Dravidian political sentiment questioning the role of the Governor.
Assembly Adopts Resolution, Raj Bhavan Issues Detailed Rebuttal
Immediately following the walkout, the Assembly adopted a resolution moved by Chief Minister Stalin. It stated that only the government-prepared customary address would go on the official record. Thanking the MLAs, Stalin said it was inappropriate for the Governor to refuse annually to read the government's policy speech.
Stalin made a significant announcement. He said the DMK would strive in Parliament, with support from like-minded parties, to amend the Constitution. The goal would be to remove provisions mandating the Governor's address at the start of the year.
Minutes later, the Raj Bhavan issued a comprehensive 13-point statement. It explained why the Governor had declined to read the address. The statement alleged the speech contained numerous unsubstantiated claims and misleading statements. It claimed several crucial issues troubling the people are ignored.
Raj Bhavan Alleges Mic Tampering and National Anthem Disrespect
The Governor's office made serious allegations against the state government. It claimed the Governor was prevented from speaking inside the House. The statement said his microphone was repeatedly switched off and he was not allowed to speak.
It further accused the government of disrespecting the national anthem. The Raj Bhavan stated the National Anthem is yet again insulted and the fundamental Constitutional duty disregarded. The national anthem remained a key point of disagreement. Governor Ravi insists it be played at the commencement of the address, while the state government maintains the Tamil anthem traditionally comes first, with the national anthem at the end.
List of Ignored Issues and a Pattern of Confrontation
The Raj Bhavan statement listed a range of issues it said were ignored in the government address:
- The state's actual investment figures
- Rising crimes against women and Dalits
- Drug abuse among youth
- A high rate of suicides
- Declining education standards
- Vacant faculty positions
- Defunct village panchayats
- Mismanaged temples
- Stressed MSME sectors
- Widespread discontent among lower-rung employees
The statement claimed these critical concerns had been bypassed and remained unaddressed.
Chief Minister Stalin noted that governors creating trouble was not unique to Tamil Nadu. He said it was happening in several states. Questioning the practice itself, Stalin argued that when a governor repeatedly violates the convention of reading the government's statement, a question naturally arises as to why such a rule/practice should exist.
Calling the Governor's conduct regrettable, Stalin said it went against the sentiments of the 8.5 crore Tamil people. This confrontation follows a clear pattern from recent years.
- In 2022, during Ravi's maiden address, the main opposition AIADMK walked out.
- In 2023, Ravi walked out abruptly as Stalin pointed to deviations from the text, including omitting references to the Dravidian model. The House then adopted a resolution to record only the pre-approved state text.
- In 2024, Ravi again declined to read the DMK-prepared address and walked out. The Lok Bhavan later said the address contained misleading claims and reading it would have been a constitutional travesty.
The standoff between the Tamil Nadu Governor and the elected state government has now reached a new peak. It raises fundamental questions about constitutional conventions and the relationship between central appointees and state administrations.
