A row has erupted in Tamil Nadu over Governor R N Ravi walking out of the State Assembly without delivering the customary inaugural address. On Tuesday, the Governor had arrived to address the House, with leaders from multiple political parties present. He demanded that the national anthem be played after the Tamil anthem, but when Speaker Appavu refused, he left without reading his address. This marked the third consecutive year that Governor Ravi has skipped the customary speech, having staged similar walkouts in 2024 and 2025.

The incident has sparked sharp reactions from Tamil Nadu leaders. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin called the walkout a disrespect to the House and a breach of Assembly protocols. “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. He later moved a resolution, stating that the 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.

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi alleges National Anthem insult

Amid the discussion, Tamil Nadu Lok Bhavan has issued a press release, stating the reasons why Governor Ravi walked out of the assembly before delivering his inaugural address. The statement noted that Governor’s microphone was repeatedly switched off, preventing him from speaking, and that issues like atrocities against Dalits and sexual violence against Dalit women were ignored in the speech.

“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 press release stated.