'Hasn't learnt any lessons': Stalin slams Tamil Nadu Governor over delay in assent to Kalaignar University bill

Chennai: Accusing Tamil Nadu Governor of “not changing his attitude” despite stringent remarks from the Supreme Court, Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday criticised R N Ravi for not giving assent to a bill passed by the Assembly over 40 days ago to establish a university after late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi.

Stalin, while addressing a government event in Thanjavur, alleged that the DMK dispensation was facing obstacles from several quarters, including the Governor’s office, BJP-led Union government, and the opposition AIADMK.

“We made an announcement to establish a new university in Thanjavur and passed a bill in the Assembly. We sent the bill to the governor for his approval, it has been over 40 days. But he has not yet given his approval for the bill. If he had given approval as soon as we sent it, by now, I would have laid the foundation stone for the Kalaignar University at this event,” he said.

The Chief Minister further accused the Governor of not granting an appointment to Higher Education Minister Govi Chezhian since the latter would exert pressure on him to sign the bill.

“If there is one question that the people of Tamil Nadu would ask, it is this: What could be more important for a Governor than this? If the Governor is one obstacle, the Union Government creates another by withholding funds and troubling us…the Governor hasn’t learnt any lessons even after the SC judgement,” he added.

"If we run out of patience, we will make the Governor give his assent to the bill," Stalin said.

The Chief Minister’s statement opens yet another front between the Tamil Nadu government and the Raj Bhavan who have been at loggerheads over a host of issues, especially over the functioning of state-run universities.

After the SC verdict in April 2025 that tore into the Governor for delaying bills, the state government took control of universities and the powers to appoint VCs.