CM M K Stalin dubs Governor R N Ravi's act of not reading customary address as "childish"

Chennai: For the second straight year, Governor R N Ravi on Monday walked out of the Tamil Nadu Assembly without reading the customary address in protest against the National Anthem not being played before his speech, an action  termed as “childish” by Chief Minister M K Stalin. 

Ravi, who arrived at the Assembly Hall inside Fort St George at 9.30 am after the House convened for the first time in 2025, left the premises at 9.33 am without reading the Governor’s address prepared by the government.  

The Governor insisted that the National Anthem should be played along with Tamil Thai Vaazhthu (State Anthem) at the beginning and end of his address.

However, Speaker M Appavu and Water Resources Minister Durai Murugan said the convention in the Tamil Nadu Assembly is to begin the Governor’s address with Tamil Thai Vaazhthu and end it with the national anthem and asserted that it can’t be changed.  

Ravi had walked out of the House last year citing the same reason, while he left the Assembly in 2023 after a resolution was moved to take on record only the printed address and not the portions skipped or added by the Governor. After Monday’s walkout, the Governor also accused the DMK government of “censoring” the proceedings of the Assembly which reminded him of the Emergency Days. 

The Assembly also witnessed a ruckus with placard-holding AIADMK MLAs demanding justice for the survivor in the Anna University sexual assault case, leading to their eviction from the House. MLAs of the BJP and PMK too staged a walk out after Appavu began reading the Tamil translation of the Governor’s address. 

Transport Minister S S Shivashankar, who spoke to reporters, accused the Governor of “insulting” the House and sought an apology from him for walking out of the Assembly. Monday’s development adds to the long list of confrontations between the Governor and the Government who have been sparring on a host of issues for the past three-and-a-half years. 

In a statement, the Governor, who reiterated his “unwavering love, respect and admiration for the rich cultural heritage of Tamil Nadu”, accused the state government of “deliberately ignoring” requests to play the National Anthem at the beginning and at the conclusion of Governor’s address as was the custom in other state assemblies. 

The Raj Bhavan said the Governor’s request to play the National Anthem on Monday to Stalin and Appavu was “cussedly refused.”

“Not singing or playing the National Anthem at the beginning of the Governor’s address was a blatant disrespect to the Constitution and the National Anthem. In deep anguish, the Governor left the House,” the statement added. 

In a social media post, Stalin said it has been the tradition to begin the year’s first session with an address by the governor. “But Governor Ravi has made it his habit to violate the tradition. The Governor, who skipped portions from the prepared speech in the last two years, leaving the House without reading the address this time is childish,” he added. 

Stalin also said the Governor’s actions amounted to “insulting” the people of Tamil Nadu, the government elected by them, and the over a century-old Assembly. “The question on everyone’s mind is why should someone who doesn’t fulfill his political and legal duties continue to remain in office,” he added. 

Durai Murugan, who asserted that the people of Tamil Nadu have always respected the National Anthem, moved a resolution to take “on record” only the text of the Governor’s customary address printed and circulated among MLAs.

P D T Achary, former Lok Sabha Secretary-General, told DH that by not reading the speech, the Governor has not discharged his Constitutional duty. “The Governor has to read the speech prepared by the government of the day which is his duty. The Constitution says the Governor shall deliver the speech which means it is mandatory. He cannot get out of that,” Achary told DH.

The Constitutional expert said while the National Anthem is played at the beginning and end of the President’s address to Parliament, state assemblies can conduct proceedings according to their customs. “The Constitution doesn’t say anything about playing of the National Anthem. State assemblies are free to follow their customs,” Achary added. 

Timeline:

2023: Governor walks out of the Assembly after CM moves a resolution against him for skipping portions of the speech

2024: Governor walks out of the House after taking objection to numerous passages with which he “convincingly” disagreed; he also says his request of playing the National Anthem wasn’t heeded to.

2025: Governor walks out without reading the address