Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi walks out of assembly

By FnF Correspondent | PUBLISHED: 20, Jan 2026, 12:11 pm IST | UPDATED: 20, Jan 2026, 12:11 pm IST

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi on Tuesday walked out of the State Legislative assembly without delivering the customary address on the opening day of the first session of the year. The Governor said in the Assembly, "I am disappointed. National Anthem was not given due respect. It must be duly respected". He said he cannot read out an address which is full of inaccuracies. “My mic was switched off, I am insulted and I am not allowed to speak, Governor Guv Ravi said in the state Assembly.

The Governor demanded that the national anthem be played after the Tamil Anthem and when Speaker Appavu refused, the Governor walked without reading the opening address.This is the third time that he staged a walk out after having skipped the customary address for the past two years.

MK Stalin slammed the Governor

Chief Minister MK Stalin slammed the Governor for "walking out in violation of tradition and ethos," and later piloted a resolution saying that the English version of the address was assumed to have been read. "The governor walked out in violation of traditions and ethos. In the state government prepared address, there is no provision for the governor to include his views or say something else," Stalin said.

He accused Ravi of "deliberately" doing such things and said his action "amounts to insulting the House." He reiterated the ruling DMK's stand that there was no need for a Governor although its past CMs- late CN Annadurai and M Karunanidhi respected the position. He follows that.

In 2024, 2025 too Governor did not deliver address

In the years 2024, 2025 too 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.

Lok Bhavan, Tamil Nadu, later issued a press release informing of the reasons why Governor RN Ravi walked out of the assembly before delivering his inaugural address.

The release says, "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."

Meanwhile, separately, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla sent birthday greetings for the Tamil Nadu Speaker."Warm birthday greetings to Shri M. Appavu, Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. May you be blessed with good health, happiness, and a long life," Birla posted on X.