Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi triggered a major political controversy on Tuesday after walking out of the state Assembly session, refusing to deliver the speech prepared by the MK Stalin-led DMK government. His sudden exit, captured on video, showed him leaving the premises and departing in his official car, drawing immediate attention across political and public circles. Soon after, the Raj Bhavan released a detailed 13-point explanation accusing the state government of disrespecting the national anthem and presenting misleading, inaccurate and unsubstantiated claims in the official address. According to the Governor, several crucial public issues were ignored, while the constitutional duty linked to the national anthem was once again violated as the session began with the Tamil anthem.

In his statement, RN Ravi questioned the government’s claim of attracting investments worth over Rs 12 crore, asserting that many of the agreements existed only on paper and that real investment inflow was far lower. He pointed out that Tamil Nadu, once among the top recipients of foreign direct investment, had slipped in rankings, making it less attractive to global investors. The Governor also raised concerns over women’s safety, citing sharp increases in Pocso cases and molestation incidents, and highlighted rising atrocities against Dalits and Dalit women. He further criticised the decline in educational standards, noting that more than half of faculty positions in institutions remained vacant, leaving students uncertain about their future. According to him, these serious issues were completely overlooked in the government’s speech.

Chief Minister MK Stalin strongly condemned the Governor’s walkout, calling it a violation of Assembly traditions and constitutional norms. He stated that the Governor had no authority to alter or reject the government-prepared address and accused RN Ravi of deliberately insulting the House. Stalin later moved a resolution asserting that the English version of the speech should be considered as having been read. He reiterated that the Governor’s role was to uphold democratic values and support the elected government, not act in opposition. The incident has intensified tensions between Raj Bhavan and the DMK government, once again placing Tamil Nadu’s constitutional and political dynamics under national spotlight.