Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi walked out of the State Assembly on Monday without delivering his customary address to the House in its maiden session of the year, alleging “inaccuracies” in the text prepared by the DMK government.
This was the fourth consecutive year since 2023 that the Governor has walked out of the Assembly.
As soon as the House began its business, the Governor greeted Assembly Speaker M Appavu, Chief Minister MK Stalin and members of the Assembly. In Tamil he extended New Year greetings and Pongal greetings. Following this, Thamizh Thaai Vaazhthu, the invocation song, was rendered.
After this, Governor Ravi expressed displeasure, stating that the National Anthem was not given due respect.
“I am disappointed. The National Anthem must be duly respected,” the Governor said.
The Speaker intervened, urging the Governor to restrict himself to reading the customary address prepared by the State government and to follow established rules and conventions of the House. Speaker Appavu also asserted that only elected MLAs are permitted to express opinions on the floor of the Assembly.
As the exchange continued, the Governor said it was unfortunate that his speech was interrupted and claimed that his microphone was switched off. I am insulted. I cannot read out Address which is full of inaccuracies," he remarked before walking out of the Assembly.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister M K Stalin slammed the Governor for "walking out in violation of tradition and ethos," and later piloted a resolution saying that the English version of the address was assumed to have been read.
"The governor walked out in violation of traditions and ethos. In the state government prepared address, there is no provision for the governor to include his views or say something else," Stalin said.
He accused Ravi of "deliberately" doing such things and said his action "amounts to insulting the House."
He reiterated the ruling DMK's stand that there was no need for a Governor although its past CMs- late CN Annadurai and M Karunanidhi respected the position. He follows that.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Tuesday said the state will not accept the erosion of its democratic institutions and the governor must stop "misusing" a constitutional office.
The Congress MP asked, "Why does Governor Ravi repeatedly refuse to follow the Constitution of India? Once again, he has acted in a manner that undermines and insults the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly -- a democratically elected body of the people."
The Constitution is clear that the governor is a constitutional head, not a parallel authority, he said in a social media post in Tamil.
"He (the governor) must act on the aid and advice of the elected state government (Article 163).
Reading out personal opinions, selectively altering the Assembly address, or withholding assent indefinitely is not constitutional discretion - it is constitutional defiance," Tagore said.
Noting that the Tamil Nadu Assembly represents millions of people, the Congress leader said, "disrespecting the House is not disrespecting a party - it is disrespecting democracy and federalism".
"Supreme Court judgments (SR Bommai, Nabam Rebia) are clear: Governors must act with neutrality, restraint, and constitutional morality - not as political agents of the Centre," he said.
Tamil Nadu will not accept the erosion of its democratic institutions, Tagore asserted.
"The governor must either uphold the Constitution or stop misusing a constitutional office to create confrontation," he said.
(With inputs from PTI)