TN Assembly drama: ‘National Anthem insulted,’ says Governor Ravi; Stalin calls walkout ‘childish’
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi walked out of the State Assembly on Monday without delivering his customary address during the opening, or maiden, session of the year, triggering a sharp confrontation with the ruling DMK government.
Soon after entering the House, the Governor expressed displeasure over what he described as inadequate respect for the National Anthem. “I am disappointed. The National Anthem must be duly respected,” Ravi said, objecting to the proceedings even before the address could begin.
The situation escalated when Speaker M Appavu intervened, urging the Governor to confine himself to reading the address prepared by the elected state government and to adhere to established Assembly rules and conventions.
The Speaker also asserted that only elected members of the House were entitled to express opinions on the floor. As the exchange continued, Ravi claimed that his microphone was switched off and that he was prevented from speaking freely.
Calling the episode an insult, the Governor said he could not read out an address that was “full of inaccuracies” before walking out of the Assembly, leaving the opening session mired in controversy.
This marks the third consecutive year Ravi has walked out of the Assembly over disagreements with the state government’s ceremonial protocols. Read the press release by the TN government below:
In contrast, Chief Minister MK Stalin and ruling DMK leaders rejected the Governor’s demand as an unnecessary departure from long-standing Assembly practice.
Stalin took to the social media platform X to label the walkout “childish” and insisted that no constitutional requirement mandates the National Anthem be played at a specific point before an address.
He accused the Governor of continuously violating Assembly customs and undermining the dignity of the state’s elected government.
Stalin’s camp maintained that the traditional format—state anthem first, national anthem later—reflects Tamil Nadu’s rich cultural identity, with Tamil Thai Valthu formally recognised as the official state anthem since 2021. They argued that altering this sequence would diminish local traditions without enhancing constitutional respect.
Meanwhile, the walkout drew support from sections of the Opposition. Reacting to the episode, PMK (Anbumani Ramadoss faction) MLA Venkateswaran said the Governor was compelled to leave after disruptions from the treasury benches.
The walkout reignites an ongoing feud between Raj Bhavan and the DMK government that has repeatedly spilled into public view. In February 2024 and January 2025, Ravi declined to read the Assembly address prepared by the state cabinet, citing disagreements over its content, and exited the House prematurely.
Opposition parties also seized on the controversy. The AIADMK, BJP, Congress, and PMK staged protests and walkouts on the Assembly floor, raising separate issues ranging from law and order to alleged government inaction on high-profile cases.
Police marshals eventually escorted protesting MLAs out of the chamber as proceedings continued. The standoff has also spilled into the public arena, with the DMK launching campaigns accusing the Governor of disrespecting Tamil pride, while Raj Bhavan insists its actions are rooted in constitutional duty.
The discord underscores persistent tensions in Tamil Nadu over ceremonial practice, federal norms, and symbolic interpretation ahead of the state’s legislative agenda for 2026.