Chennai: For the third consecutive year, the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly witnessed high drama as Governor R.N. Ravi walked out of the House on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, refusing to deliver his customary address. The confrontation has triggered a fierce political war of words between the Raj Bhavan (now referred to as Lok Bhavan) and the ruling DMK government.
As of today, January 22, 2026, the issue continues to dominate state politics, with Chief Minister M.K. Stalin vowing to push for a constitutional amendment to abolish the Governor’s address altogether.
Here is a detailed breakdown of what happened inside the Assembly and the serious allegations raised by the Governor.
The Walkout: What Happened on January 20?
The first session of the Tamil Nadu Assembly for 2026 began on a stormy note. As per convention, the session starts with the Governor reading a speech prepared by the state government.
- The Trigger: Governor Ravi insisted that the National Anthem be played before the address. However, the Assembly tradition is to play the ‘Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu’ (State Anthem) at the start and the National Anthem at the end.
- The Action: When the Speaker, M. Appavu, adhered to the existing tradition, the Governor refused to read the speech. He greeted the members in Tamil and walked out of the chamber within minutes.
- The Resolution: Immediately after the walkout, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin moved a resolution to treat the government-prepared text as “read.” The resolution was passed unanimously by the House.
Why Did Governor Ravi Refuse to Speak?
Shortly after the incident, the Governor’s office issued a stinging 13-point press statement explaining his decision. The statement alleged that the Governor was not allowed to speak and that his microphone was repeatedly switched off.
Beyond the protocol dispute, the Governor labeled the government’s speech as “misleading” and “factually incorrect.”
Read more: Raipur News
Key Allegations by the Governor:
- Fake Investment Claims: The Governor’s statement argued that the claim of attracting ₹12 lakh crore in investments is “far from the truth,” stating that actual investments are a fraction of this and that Tamil Nadu has slipped from 4th to 6th place in FDI rankings.
- Drug Crisis: He highlighted a “rampant prevalence of narcotics,” linking drug abuse to over 2,000 suicides among youth in the last year.
- Women’s Safety: The statement claimed a 55% increase in POCSO (rape) cases and a 33% rise in molestation incidents, which were completely ignored in the government’s speech.
- Dalit Atrocities: The Governor accused the government of bypassing the issue of increasing violence against Dalits.
Chief Minister Stalin’s Response
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin hit back strongly, accusing the Governor of turning the Assembly into a political battleground.
- “Goat’s Beard” Remark: Quoting DMK founder C.N. Annadurai, Stalin remarked, “A goat doesn’t need a beard, and a state doesn’t need a Governor.”
- Constitutional Amendment: Stalin declared that the DMK would coordinate with like-minded parties to amend the Constitution and remove the mandatory Governor’s address, calling it an “archaic colonial practice” that hinders elected governments.
Why This Matters
This is not a one-time event. The conflict between the DMK government and Governor RN Ravi has been ongoing since his appointment.
- Recurring Pattern: Governor Ravi had similarly walked out or skipped parts of the address in 2024 and 2025, primarily over the National Anthem issue and ideological differences (Dravidian model vs. Central policies).
- Federal Structure: The incident has reignited the national debate on the role of Governors in opposition-ruled states. Critics argue the Governor is interfering in state administration, while supporters argue he is upholding constitutional duties by flagging governance failures.
FAQs About the TN Governor Controversy
1. Why did RN Ravi walk out of the Assembly?
Governor Ravi walked out because the National Anthem was not played at the start of the session and because he disagreed with the “misleading” facts in the government-prepared speech.
2. What is the National Anthem controversy in TN Assembly?
The Tamil Nadu Assembly tradition is to play the ‘Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu’ at the beginning and the ‘National Anthem’ at the end. The Governor insists the National Anthem should be played at the start.
3. What is ‘Lok Bhavan’?
In recent reports from 2026, the Governor’s office/residence (Raj Bhavan) has been referred to as ‘Lok Bhavan’ in official press releases.
4. What happens if the Governor does not read the speech?
Under the rules, the Assembly can pass a resolution to treat the speech as “read” and take it on official record, which is exactly what CM Stalin did.
5. Can the Governor’s post be abolished?
Abolishing the Governor’s post would require a Constitutional Amendment by the Parliament of India. A state government alone cannot remove the Governor.