Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Tuesday strongly condemned the recent walkout of Governor R.N. Ravi from the state Legislative Assembly, describing the action as a violation of democratic norms and assembly traditions.
The incident occurred during the opening of the Assembly session, when the Governor exited the House without delivering his customary address. According to state conventions, the Governor’s speech — prepared by the state government — is traditionally read at the beginning of the legislative session. However, Governor Ravi chose to leave the chamber shortly after taking his seat, triggering a political row.
Reacting to the development, Stalin criticized the Governor’s decision, saying that it was unbecoming of the constitutional office. The Chief Minister emphasised that it is the democratic tradition for the Governor to read the government’s address at the start of each session, a practice that reflects the functioning of India’s legislative system. Asserting that the Governor had repeatedly failed to uphold this practice, Stalin termed the move “childish” and a disregard for established protocol.
Stalin also suggested that the Governor’s conduct disrespected the Assembly and the elected government, further intensifying the ongoing tensions between Raj Bhavan and the state administration. The Chief Minister’s remarks underscore the deepening rift between the Governor and the DMK-led government over procedural norms and constitutional practice in the legislature.
The walkout has drawn significant political attention and is likely to add to the debate over the role of the Governor in state legislative affairs, especially at a time when Tamil Nadu is navigating heightened political activity in the run-up to the 2026 Assembly elections.