Chennai:

The Tamil Nadu government has announced its decision to boycott the Republic Day tea party to be hosted by Governor R.N. Ravi at the Raj Bhavan on January 26.

This move comes as a protest against the Governor’s alleged actions, which the ruling government claims are obstructive to its functioning.

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), led by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, stated that no party representatives would attend the Republic Day event. Several other political parties, including Congress, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), and Left-wing parties, have also declared their decision to skip the reception.

MDMK General Secretary Vaiko accused the Governor of undermining the state government from the day he assumed office.

He criticised R.N. Ravi for withholding assent to bills passed by the Legislative Assembly and claimed that the Governor was pushing a Hindutva agenda, which he said goes against the principles of the Constitution.

Vaiko said: “MDMK has been demanding the removal of R.N. Ravi as Governor. He has continuously functioned as an agent of Hindutva principles and trampled upon constitutional norms.”

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) President K. Selvaperunthagai also accused the Governor of acting against the interests of the state and its people.

In a social media post, he highlighted the delay in appointing Vice-Chancellors for state universities and criticized Ravi for refusing to approve bills passed by the Legislative Assembly.

Condemning the Governor’s actions, Communist Party of India (Marxist) State Secretary P. Shanmugam said: “The Governor has disrespected the Constitution, cooperative federalism, and the authority of the Legislative Assembly. He has lost the moral qualification to continue as the Governor of Tamil Nadu.”

The VCK echoed similar sentiments, emphasising that the Governor’s actions threaten the autonomy of the state.

In a surprising political twist, the Raj Bhavan extended an invitation to Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader and actor Vijay to attend the reception.

While invitations have been sent to leaders of various political parties, Vijay’s potential attendance has sparked speculation. It remains unclear whether the actor will participate in the event.

It is customary for the Governor to host a tea party at Raj Bhavan on Republic Day.

However, the relationship between the Tamil Nadu government and Governor R.N. Ravi has been contentious. Despite this, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and his cabinet colleagues attended the Independence Day reception hosted by the Governor on August 15, 2024, as part of the national celebrations.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Chennai:

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi refused to deliver his customary address to the Assembly today and walked out in protest of the National Anthem not being sung at the beginning of the address. As per tradition, the state anthem Tamil Thai Valthu is sung when the House meets and the National Anthem at the end. But Governor Ravi has taken exception to this norm and said the national anthem should be sung at both times.

“The Constitution of Bharat and the National Anthem were once again insulted in the Tamil Nadu Assembly today. Respecting the National Anthem is among the first Fundamental Duty as enshrined in our Constitution. It is sung in all the state legislatures at the beginning and the end of Governor’s address,” the Raj Bhavan said in a statement after the Governor walked out today. “Today on arrival of Governor to the House only Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu was sung. Governor respectfully reminded the House of its Constitutional Duty and fervently appealed to the Hon’ble Chief Minister who is the Leader of the House and the Hon’ble Speaker for singing the National Anthem. However, they cussedly refused. It is a matter of grave concern. Not to be a party to such brazen disrespect to the Constitution and the National Anthem, Governor in deep anguish left the House,” the Raj Bhavan added.

In response, Chief Minister MK Stalin said in a post on X that the Governor had made it a custom to violate the Assembly’s tradition and called his actions “childish”. “According to the Constitution, it is a tradition of legislative democracy for the state governor to read the government’s address at the beginning of the year! He has made it his custom to violate it @rajbhavan_TN. It is childish that the governor, who has cut out what was there and added what was not, has gone without reading it this time,” he said, referring to passages skipped by the Governor in his earlier speeches in Assembly.

“The Governor’s actions in continuously insulting the people of Tamil Nadu, the government elected by them, and the century-old Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly are unbecoming of the position he holds. Why should someone who is unwilling to perform their political and legal duties remain in office is the question on everyone’s mind!” he added.

After the Governor walked out, Assembly Speaker M Appavu delivered the customary address that was to be read by the Governor.

This is not the first time the Raj Bhavan and the DMK government have sparred over the custom in Tamil Nadu Assembly.

Last February, the Governor had refused to deliver the customary address to the Assembly and said the draft had “numerous passages with misleading claims far from truth”. The Raj Bhavan also said that the National Anthem must be shown due respect and played both at the beginning and end of the Governor’s address.

In 2022, R N Ravi refused to read parts of the speech that had the names of BR Ambedkar, Periyar, CN Annadurai besides the phrase ‘Dravidian Model’ and some references to law and order in Tamil Nadu. He had then walked out even without waiting for the national anthem after the House adopted a resolution to record only the official speech and not the Governor’s version.

Ever since he took over as Tamil Nadu Governor in 2021, Mr Ravi has had frosty ties with the MK Stalin-led state government. The DMK government has accused him of acting like a BJP spokesperson and blocking Bills and appointments. The Governor has said the Constitution empowers him to withhold his assent to legislation. The dispute between the Raj Bhavan and state government has also reached the Supreme Court and Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The Supreme Court and Madras High Court have held that Governors ought to function on the aid and advice of the cabinet.