From Raj Bhavan to courtroom: Ravi's rocky tenure in Tamil Nadu

Chennai: R N Ravi has had a tumultuous tenure as Tamil Nadu governor since assuming office on September 18, 2021, earning the label of a “disruptor” due to his public disputes with the DMK-led government under Chief Minister M K Stalin and his criticisms of the Dravidian ideology, deeply rooted in the state’s political landscape.

Ravi faced protests from parties like Congress and VCK within hours of his transfer from Nagaland to Chennai’s Raj Bhavan, with many suspecting an “ulterior motive” behind the BJP’s decision to appoint a former police officer as governor shortly after the DMK returned to power in May 2021, ending a decade in opposition.

Born in April 1952 in Bihar, Ravi is a Kerala-cadre IPS officer who served as Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee in 2014 and was appointed Deputy National Security Advisor in October 2018. From 2014 until his transfer to Tamil Nadu, he acted as the interlocutor for talks between the NSCN-IM and the Union Government.

Ravi’s tenure has been marked by frequent clashes with the state government, keeping him constantly in the news. The confrontation between the two institutions have left at least half-a-dozen state-run universities headless for the past one year. 

His actions include returning bills, withholding assent to legislations, “dismissing” a minister from the Cabinet without the Chief Minister’s approval, refusing to swear in a minister, and suggesting that Tamizhagam was a more suitable name for the state than Tamil Nadu. 

His also came under fire for his remarks that Governor withholding a Bill passed by the Assembly means that the “Bill is dead”, that he would never clear the anti-NEET Bill and publicly contradicting the police when a petrol bomb was hurled outside the Raj Bhavan. 

He has used every opportunity in the last 3.5 years to take potshots at the Dravidian movement, almost billing it as one that advocates separatism and opposes Hindi. Last year, he landed in a row after the word ‘Dravidam’ was skipped while Tamil Thai Vaazthu (State Anthem) was sung at an event attended by him. 

His penchant for Sanathana Dharma, which he says still guides the country, and remarks that Tamil literature like Thirukkural was wrongly translated into English often brought him at conflict with Tamil Nadu’s political ideology with many wondering whether his utterances were indirectly helping the ruling party.

Ravi holds the distinction of being the only Tamil Nadu governor to return two bills to the Assembly and withhold assent to ten others, prompting the state government to convene three special sessions in 2022 and 2023 to re-enact all twelve bills unchanged. He further escalated tensions by sending twelve bills to the President of India, an action the DMK challenged in court.

He also set a record by walking out of the Assembly three times in a row, reinforcing the DMK’s ideological stance that the governor’s post is unnecessary in a democracy like India. 

Undeterred, the DMK began mocking Ravi as its “chief campaigner,” arguing that his actions help “expose the BJP,” spread Dravidian ideology to the masses, and clarify the party’s demand for state autonomy. 

Chief Minister Stalin even made the governor a key issue in the 2024 elections, repeatedly “requesting” the Centre not to replace Ravi. 

“His speeches are helping Dravidian ideology reach more people. The more he speaks, the easier it becomes for people to understand our push for state autonomy,” Stalin said at a public meeting in January 2025.

Ravi has struggled to shed his police background, often making controversial statements about Tamil Nadu’s culture, linguistic identity, and language. Remarks such as his support for Hindi and his description of Tamil Nadu’s politics as “regressive” have embarrassed the BJP, clashing with the party’s efforts to build rapport with Tamils.

The DMK has dragged him to the Supreme Court three times—November 2023, March 2024, and most recently—with the judiciary frequently criticizing his actions. 

The relationship between Raj Bhavan and Fort St George became irreparable after Governor R N Ravi “dismissed” V Senthil Balaji from the Cabinet and refused to swear in K Ponmudy as a minister, despite the Supreme Court suspending Ponmudy’s conviction in a corruption case. These incidents occurred in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

While the dismissal of Balaji was “withheld” following an intervention by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the Supreme Court compelled the Governor to administer the oath of office and secrecy to Ponmudy.

In a state that fiercely embraces its language and identity, the Governor’s statements on culture—intended to challenge the government—backfired, ultimately strengthening the DMK administration, which takes pride in the glory of the Tamil language and the distinct heritage of the Tamil land.

With the Supreme Court condemning Ravi’s actions as “illegal,” it remains uncertain whether the Governor will soften his confrontational stance toward the government or further escalate tensions.