'Why Does A State Need A Governor?': Stalin Accuses RN Ravi Of 'Disrespecting' Assembly

Last Updated:January 20, 2026, 11:21 IST

Chief Minister MK Stalin, while addressing the Legislative Assembly, said that the Governor's action disrespects the house and is against the protocols of the Assembly.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin (Image: PTI/File)

A high-octane drama erupted in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Tuesday after Governor RN Ravi staged a walkout and skipped the customary address to the Assembly, reiterating that the national anthem was insulted in the house. Following the Governor’s actions, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said that Governor RN Ravi had “disrespected the House and his actions are an insult to the 100-year old Assembly".

The Chief Minister, while addressing the Legislative Assembly on the opening day of the first session of the year, said that the Governor’s action disrespects the house and is against the protocols of the Assembly.

“Actions of the Governor insult the 100-year-old assembly. I would like to recollect the phrase of CN Annadurai, who said before that, “Why does a goat need a beard, and why does a state need a Governor?" Stalin said.

“Both Annadurai and Kalaignar M Karunanidhi, when they were Chief Ministers before, had never disrespected the post of the Governor. My legislators and I have also followed their footsteps and never deterred against the Governor," the Chief Minister said, adding, “However, the act of the Governor now and the previous occasions is saddening. Tamil Nadu assembly reflects the sentiments of crores of Tamils."

Stalin further stated that the Governor should value the people of the state and accused him of spreading malicious campaigns against the government in public platforms.

“The assembly doesn’t accept the fact that the Governor walks out of the Assembly without reading the customary speech prepared by the state government," he added.

Governor Walks Out Of Assembly

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi skipped his customary address to the House and walked out of the first session of 2026. The Governor demanded that the national anthem be played after the Tamil Anthem and when Speaker Appavu refused, he walked out without reading the opening address.

Notably, this is the third time the Governor has staged a walkout after having skipped the customary address for the past two years.

In the years 2024 and 2025 as well, the Governor did not deliver the address to the Assembly. Last year, he staged a walkout from the Assembly as the national anthem was not played at the start of his address.

Elaborating on the reasons behind the Governor’s walkout from the Assembly, the Tamil Nadu Lok Bhavan issued a statement and alleged that the Governor’s Mike was repeatedly switched off and he was not allowed to speak.

“The Governor’s mic was repeatedly switched off, and he was not allowed to speak… Atrocities against Dalits and sexual violence against Dalit women are sharply increasing. However, it is totally bypassed in the speech… National Anthem is yet again insulted, and the Fundamental Constitutional Duty is disregarded," the Lok Bhavan said in a press release.

AIADMK Stages Walkout

Meanwhile, stating that law and order have deteriorated in Tamil Nadu, the opposition AIADMK staged a walkout from the Assembly and protested against the ruling DMK-led state government.

News politics 'Why Does A State Need A Governor?': Stalin Accuses RN Ravi Of 'Disrespecting' Assembly

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