Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi on Tuesday skipped his customary address to the state Assembly, triggering a fresh political confrontation in the state. His decision came after he repeated his claim that the “national anthem was insulted” when the Tamil anthem was played at the beginning of the Assembly session.
In a statement issued by the Tamil Nadu Lok Bhavan, the Governor’s office said, “The National Anthem is yet again insulted, and the Fundamental Constitutional Duty disregarded.”
Lok Bhavan, Tamil Nadu, issues 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… pic.twitter.com/GOj6D7jWnF
— ANI (@ANI) January 20, 2026
Reason Behind Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi Walkout
Explaining the Governor’s sudden exit from the Assembly, the Lok Bhavan alleged that he was not allowed to speak and that his microphone was repeatedly switched off. According to the statement, this left the Governor with no option but to walk out.
The standoff between Governor RN Ravi and Chief Minister MK Stalin-led DMK government has intensified just months before the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, adding to the political tension in the state.
Protocol Disrupted in the Assembly
As per established protocol, the Governor was scheduled to deliver the opening address to the Tamil Nadu Assembly. However, disorder broke out soon after the state anthem was played. Governor Ravi offered a brief greeting in Tamil and then walked out of the House, highlighting the ongoing friction between Raj Bhavan and the DMK government.
Governor’s Criticism of the Government
In its press release, the Lok Bhavan criticised the content of the Assembly speech, saying, “The speech contains numerous unsubstantiated claims and misleading statements. Several crucial issues troubling the people are ignored.”
The statement challenged the government’s claim of attracting investments worth over Rs 12 lakh crore. It said these figures did not reflect reality. “Many of the MOUs with prospective investors remain only on paper. Actual investment is hardly a fraction of it. Investment data show that Tamil Nadu is becoming less attractive for investors. Until four years ago, Tamil Nadu, among the states, was the fourth largest recipient of foreign direct investment. Today, it is struggling to remain at the sixth,” the statement added.
Women’s Safety and Crime Concerns
The Governor also linked his walkout to concerns over women’s safety in the state. He accused the government of ignoring the issue despite a sharp rise in crimes. According to the statement, incidents of POCSO-related rapes have increased by over 55 percent, while cases of sexual molestation of women have risen by more than 33 percent.
He also raised alarm over the growing problem of narcotics and drug abuse among the youth, stating that the issue is “casually bypassed”.
Dalit Atrocities and Suicide Rates
The Lok Bhavan further claimed that crimes against Dalits are increasing at an alarming rate. “Atrocities against Dalits and sexual violence against Dalit women are sharply increasing,” the statement said.
It also pointed to a worrying rise in suicides in the state. “About 20,000 people in our state committed suicide in one year- almost 65 suicides every day. Nowhere else in the country is the situation so alarming. Tamil Nadu is being referred to as the Suicide Capital of India. Yet it does not seem to concern the government.”
Education and Local Governance Issues
Governor Ravi also flagged concerns about declining educational standards and alleged widespread mismanagement in educational institutions across the state. He claimed that several thousand Village Panchayats have become non-functional because local body elections have not been conducted for years.
“Crores of people are denied of their rights of grassroots democracy. This is against the letter and spirit of the Constitution. People are anxiously waiting for the restoration of Village Panchayats. However, this does not find even a mention in the speech,” the statement read.
Temples and MSME Sector Concerns
The Governor further noted that thousands of temples in Tamil Nadu are functioning without Boards of Trustees and are directly controlled by the state government. He said key orders of the Madras High Court related to the restoration and preservation of ancient temples have not been implemented even after five years.
The statement also highlighted stress in the MSME sector. “MSME sectors are under huge stress due to visible and invisible costs of running the industry. Entrepreneurs from Tamil Nadu are forced to locate their enterprises in other states,” it said, explaining the broader reasons behind Governor RN Ravi’s walkout from the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
