TN Governor RN Ravi boycotts Assembly, without reading customary address

Governor RN Ravi is at it again. For the third year in a row, he walked out of the Tamil Nadu Assembly without delivering the customary address to the House on Tuesday, sparking a fresh bout of turf war with the elected government of MK Stalin.

In the first session of the new year, it is customary for the Governor to read out the address, prepared by the State Government and forwarded to him well in advance. Though the session too is convened with his consent, there was uncertainty over whether he would read out the address. And he didn’t disappoint many doubting Thomases.

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Soon after the walkout by the Governor, Chief Minister MK Stalin moved a resolution condemning Ravi’s action and deemed the address as delivered. “The Governor has insulted the House and has gone against traditions,” he charged and accused him of habitually defaming the government in his speeches at various events and functions.

On his arrival, the Governor was accorded a grand welcome by Speaker M Appavu and other senior government officials.

For his walkout, Ravi cited the national anthem not being played along with the State anthem (Thamizh Thai Vazhthu – Invocation to Mother Tamil). The tradition and convention of the TN Assembly, one of the oldest in the country, is to play the Thamizh Thai Vazhthu at the commencement of the session and the national anthem at the close of the day’s proceedings.

Assuming office in September 2021, Ravi had delivered the full address only in 2022. The next year, he skipped a few portions containing the words “secularism” and “self-respect,” besides the names of Dravidian icons Periyar (leader of the non-Brahmin movement EV Ramasamy), Anna (DMK founder and former Chief Minister), and Kalaignar (late Chief Minister M Karunanidhi), as well as Dr BR Ambedkar. But he walked out of the House in 2024 and 2025, and now in 2026.

Listing out 13 reasons for not declining to deliver the address, the Lok Bhavan said the text contained unsubstantiated claims and misleading statements, ignoring several crucial issues troubling the people. Last but not the least was the non-playing of the national anthem at the commencement of the session. Debunking the claims of the government on various fronts, from economy to women’s safety, the post said Tamil Nadu has become less attractive for investment with the deterioration of the law and order situation. Rampant drug abuse cases and a rise in crime against women and children was also highlighted.