Madurai: Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi has found himself at the centre of a fresh political row after he urged students to chant 'Jai Shri Ram' during an event at a private engineering college here on Saturday.

Serving as the chief guest, the Governor reportedly ended his speech by asking students to repeat the religious slogan, which critics argue is commonly associated with the ideological line of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Congress MLA JMH Hassan Maulaana sharply criticised the Governor’s actions, claiming they were unbecoming of a person holding a constitutional post. “The Governor is acting like an RSS spokesperson in Tamil Nadu. His actions reflect partisan propaganda, which is not expected from someone in his position,” the Velachery MLA told ANI.

The incident has reignited concerns over Governor Ravi’s neutrality, particularly after the Supreme Court had earlier reprimanded him over delays in action on ten state-passed bills. 

At the same event, Governor Ravi also condemned recent “vulgar and contemptuous” comments made by a senior DMK leader, referring to derogatory remarks against women and Hindu religious communities. Though not naming the individual directly, he was alluding to former Tamil Nadu forest minister K Ponmudy, who was recently removed from his party post for making offensive statements about Shaivism and Vaishnavism.

The Governor’s dual focus—promoting a religious chant and denouncing the ruling party’s leaders—has further heightened tensions between the Raj Bhavan and the DMK-led state government. Opposition leaders have reiterated demands for constitutional impartiality from the Governor, warning that repeated deviations could erode public trust in democratic institutions.