Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi leaving Fort St. George after he left without reading the usual speech on the opening day of the first session of the assembly of the year on Tuesday. | Photo credit: R. Ragu
Allies of the ruling DMK on Tuesday (Jan 20, 2026) criticized Governor RN Ravi for refusing to read his usual speech at the opening session of the Tamil Nadu Assembly, while opposition parties took aim at the speech prepared by the government.
K. Selvaperunthagai, president of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee, said the governor’s act amounted to insulting the Constitution of India, the dignity of the legislature and the democratically elected members of the legislature.
He said in a statement that the powers of the Governor were clearly defined in the Constitution and were re-emphasized in several judgments of the Supreme Court.
“According to the November 2025 Supreme Court verdict, there cannot be two centers of executive power in the state. Complete authority rests with the Council of Ministers and Articles 200 and 201 of the Constitution clearly define the powers of the Governor. Bills passed by the legislature cannot interfere.” “In this context, Mr. Ravi, acting contrary to the powers conferred by the Constitution, is unfit to hold this office.”
MDMK chief Vaiko said that Mr. Ravi did not respect the traditions of the assembly despite being explained several times that the Tamil Thai Vazhthu would be played at the beginning and the National Anthem would be played at the end of the day’s session.
“The governor’s office issued a wrong statement that he was not allowed to speak and that his microphone was switched off. The statement issued looks like it was issued from the BJP office,” he alleged.
CPI state secretary M. Veerapandian said the Union government must remove Governor Ravi. “Everyone knows who does not accept the tricolor and who questions the Ashoka Chakra. There is no need to take lessons on patriotism in Tamil Nadu,” he said.
MH Jawahirullah, the founder of the Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, demanded that the President of India remove the Governor for “showing contempt for the traditions of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly”.
“That the Governor, who lacks willingness to appreciate the rapid progress of Tamil Nadu as a leading state in education, women empowerment, employment and inclusive development, has decided to walk away alleging that investments exist only on paper and that the microphone has been switched off repeatedly, is an act that hurts the sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu,” he said.
PMK president Anbumani criticized the content of the Governor’s prepared speech and said that the claim that Tamil Nadu attracted ₹12.16 crore in investment was a lie. “Ever since the DMK came to power, they have been claiming that several crores of crores are being invested in Tamil Nadu, resulting in several crores of jobs. PMK has refuted these claims several times.”
Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam leader TTV Dhinakaran said the governor’s speech, which was supposed to focus on the policies of the state government and how it benefits the people of the state, instead seems to paint a picture of a rosy Tamil Nadu that DMK supporters believe is true.
The governor’s speech was to address the spread of drugs in society and the breakdown of law and order. “By not doing this, the state government has tried to hide the pumpkin in the rice. At a time when teachers, government employees, doctors, nurses, electricity and transport department employees, businessmen and disabled people are protesting against the government, it is ridiculous that the government is using the lines of revolutionary poet Bharathidasan to describe how it is running the government,” he said.
Published – 21 Jan 2026 01:57 IST
