Chennai, Jan 20: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday strongly criticized Governor RN Ravi after he walked out of the state Assembly without delivering his customary opening address, calling the move an “insult” to the House and a violation of established protocols.
Stalin recalled DMK founder CN Annadurai’s famous remark, asking rhetorically, “Why does a goat need a beard, and why does a state need a Governor?” He said the Governor should respect the democratically elected majority government and the sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu.
“The actions of the Governor insult the 100-year-old Assembly. Neither my predecessors, Annadurai and Kalaignar Karunanidhi, nor I have disrespected the Governor. But such acts now are saddening,” Stalin said. He accused the Governor of spreading malicious campaigns against the government on public platforms.
The row erupted after Governor Ravi allegedly demanded that the National Anthem be played after the Tamil Anthem. Tamil Nadu Speaker Appavu reportedly refused the request, prompting Ravi to exit the House without reading the prepared speech. The Assembly later issued a statement claiming the Governor’s microphone was repeatedly switched off and that he failed to address pressing issues, including atrocities against Dalits and sexual violence.
In response, CM Stalin moved a resolution stating that the Assembly will consider the Governor’s speech uploaded digitally as formally delivered. This marks the third such incident involving Governor Ravi, who had previously walked out of the Assembly in 2024 and 2025 over similar issues.
The incident has reignited debate over the role of Governors in states and the respect accorded to elected governments, placing constitutional conventions under scrutiny once again.