Tamil Nadu Governor Walks Out of Assembly Over Anthem Protocol

Anthem Protocol Row: Tamil Nadu Governor Skips Address, Deepens Standoff With DMK Government In Assembly

Tamil Nadu Governor R. N. Ravi walked out of the State Legislative Assembly on Monday, declining to deliver the customary address on the first day of the budget session.

He cited concerns over the handling of the national anthem and said the proceedings failed to follow established protocol. The move set off sharp exchanges in the House and widened the rift between Raj Bhavan and the DMK government.

Soon after taking his seat, the Governor left the Assembly without reading the address prepared by the state government. In a statement issued later, Raj Bhavan said the sequence followed during the opening ceremony did not accord due primacy to the national anthem.

Anthem Row Triggers Governor–Government Clash

The Governor objected to the manner in which it was placed alongside the state song, Tamil Thai Vaazhthu. The statement said the Governor had raised these concerns earlier and could not ignore what he described as repeated departures from constitutional norms. 

It also alleged that officials interrupted him during the proceedings and switched off the microphone when he attempted to speak.

The Tamil Nadu government dismissed the charges. Chief Minister M. K. Stalin told the House that the Assembly followed long-standing conventions. He said the government respected the national anthem and the state song and accused the Governor of disrupting a constitutional process.

Stalin said the Governor’s decision to walk out showed disregard for the authority of the legislature and the mandate of the elected government. He urged constitutional functionaries to act within the limits set by the Constitution.

Does Governor Walkout Deepen Tamil Nadu Standoff?

Members of the ruling DMK protested inside the House after the Governor’s exit. The Assembly later took up and adopted the Governor’s address in his absence, as permitted under legislative procedure.

The opposition AIADMK staged a walkout of its own. Party leaders accused the DMK government of provoking repeated confrontations with the Governor and said the episode brought disrepute to the state.

This is not the first time the Governor has skipped or curtailed the opening address. Similar incidents in previous years have revolved around objections to the content of the speech and procedural issues.

The Governor’s address traditionally marks the formal start of a legislative session and outlines the government’s policy agenda. While the text reflects the views of the elected government, Governors retain limited discretion to flag concerns.

Monday’s developments underline the continuing institutional tension in Tamil Nadu. The episode is also expected to fuel a broader debate on the role of Governors and the scope of their authority in states governed by opposition parties.