TN Governor Skips Address, Walks Out After Tamil Nadu Anthem Played Instead of National Anthem
Governor RN Ravi walked out of the Tamil Nadu Assembly after the state anthem was played instead of the national one, skipping his address.
Tensions resurfaced in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Tuesday after Governor RN Ravi skipped his customary address to the House and walked out of the opening session of 2026, citing objections over protocol related to the playing of the anthem. The flashpoint emerged when the state anthem was played at the start of proceedings instead of the national anthem.
The Assembly convened at 9.30 am, with the Governor scheduled to deliver the inaugural address as per convention. However, the situation quickly escalated after the Tamil Nadu anthem was played, prompting Governor Ravi to leave the House after offering a brief greeting in Tamil. The walkout marked the second consecutive year the governor has exited the Assembly over the same issue.
Raj Bhavan sources later indicated that the governor believes the national anthem must be accorded primacy at official state functions, particularly in the legislature. The episode mirrors similar confrontations in previous sessions and reflects the deepening rift between the Governor and the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government led by Chief Minister MK Stalin.
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Despite the governor’s departure, assembly proceedings continued. Speaker M Appavu informed members that the Governor had been formally apprised of the protocol followed by the state. Chief Minister Stalin subsequently moved a resolution to place the Governor’s address on record, even though it was not delivered on the floor of the House.
The latest confrontation comes at a politically sensitive time, with Assembly elections due in about three months. Relations between the governor, appointed by the BJP-led central government, and the DMK administration have been strained, with repeated clashes over issues ranging from law and order to the clearance of state legislation.
The friction has previously reached the Supreme Court, particularly over delays in granting assent to bills passed by the Assembly. Tuesday’s walkout has once again highlighted the ongoing institutional tussle between Raj Bhavan and the elected state government, adding to an already charged political atmosphere in Tamil Nadu.
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