Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi walked out of the State Legislative Assembly during the opening of the first session of the year, yet again, after objecting to the National Anthem not being played following the rendition of Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu. Declaring that the National Anthem had been insulted, the Governor declined to deliver his customary address, triggering yet another confrontation between Lok Bhavan and the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).
Soon after the walkout, Lok Bhavan issued a statement alleging that the Governor’s microphone was “repeatedly switched off” and that he was not allowed to speak. The statement further stated that the speech prepared by the State government contained “numerous unsubstantiated claims and misleading statements” and had bypassed several serious issues affecting the people, including claims of ₹12 lakh crore in investments and concerns relating to women’s safety.
Chief Minister MK Stalin responded sharply, accusing the Governor of having “disrespected and insulted 100-year-old traditions of the House.” He said, “Once again, the Hon’ble Governor has acted in violation of constitutional provisions and established conventions and has left the Assembly. Rather than merely saying he went out, it must be stated that he walked out. Such conduct does not befit the high office held by the Governor.”
Citing Article 176 of the Constitution, Stalin said, “Under Article 176 of the Constitution of India, the Governor’s Address is prepared by the State government and is required to be read in full by the Governor. The Constitution does not provide any scope under Article 176 for the Governor to express personal views or to delete portions of the address prepared and submitted by the elected State government.”
He further said that despite the Governor writing to the State government and receiving a reply, the walkout amounted to a “deliberate” constitutional violation and an affront to the dignity of the Assembly. He said, “Despite this, the Governor cited certain explanations, wrote a letter to the State government yesterday, and a reply was duly sent to him. In this situation, the Hon’ble Governor has deliberately committed an act that violates the Constitution. I consider the Governor’s action to be an affront to the dignity of this House, which carries a tradition spanning over a century and represents the sovereignty of the people.”
Recalling a speech he delivered on 10 April 2023, Stalin said, “I would like to recall here a portion of the speech I delivered in this very Assembly – ‘Why does a goat need a beard… and why does a state need a Governor?’, although Perarignar Anna had once remarked this even though this view was echoed by Muthamizh Arignar Kalaignar, while that office exists, they never failed to accord it the respect it deserved during their tenures as Chief Ministers. Following that tradition, I too have not deviated from it even by a fraction. This government has also not faltered in that regard. This is what I stated on that day.”
However, the DMK’s current defence of the sanctity and dignity of the Governor’s address stands in stark contrast to Stalin’s own statements when the party was in opposition.
In 2018, referring to the Governor’s address, Stalin had remarked: “So, as I mentioned in the beginning, the Governor’s address is like ‘muscoth halwa’.”
In 2019, he went further, stating: “It is a shameful act that the Governor’s address, prepared on behalf of the government, is being presented in the Legislative Assembly today. Therefore, the Governor is now reading out the failure papers that the government has written for him. Hence, we condemn this and have staged a walkout from the Assembly, boycotting his address, on behalf of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.”
Again, in 2020, Stalin justified another boycott by saying: “We decided to boycott this Governor’s address, which was prepared by the ruling party, and have walked out in protest.”
அரசு தயாரித்து தந்த ஆளுநர் உரையில் பல திருத்தங்களை செய்துள்ளார் ஆளுநர். அந்த திருத்தங்களை ஏற்க திமுக அரசு மறுப்பு.
அரசு தயாரித்து தரும் உரையை ஆளுநர் படிக்கவேண்டும் என்று சொல்லும் முதல்வர் முக ஸ்டாலின், எதிர்க்கட்சி தலைவராக இருந்தபொழுது உதிர்த்த பொன்மொழிகள். pic.twitter.com/FOAVKbEMoj
— Krishna Kumar Murugan (@ikkmurugan) January 20, 2026
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