Rahul Gandhi condemns Presidential reference to Supreme Court on state bills: 'Dangerous assault on federalism'

Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday criticised the Centre for allegedly misusing the powers of governors to "stifle the voices" of elected governments.

He was reacting to an older post on X by Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin who criticised President Droupadi Murmu's query to the Supreme Court on whether timelines can be imposed on governors or Presidents to clear bills.

"India’s strength lies in its diversity — a Union of States, each with its own voice. The Modi government is misusing Governors to stifle those voices and obstruct elected state governments," Rahul Gandhi said, reacting to the post from May 15.

The Congress leader added that this was a "dangerous assault on federalism and it must be resisted."

Earlier, Stalin had strongly condemned the Centre's Presidential reference to the Supreme Court, saying that it attempts to subvert the Constitutional position already settled by the apex court in the Tamil Nadu Governor’s case.

Indias strength lies in its diversity a Union of States, each with its own voice.The Modi government is misusing Governors to stifle those voices and obstruct elected state governments.This is a dangerous assault on federalism and it must be resisted. https://t.co/bT5cyt84ci

Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 21, 2025

The top court on April 8 ruled that the President must decide on State Bills, reserved by Governors for Presidential assent, within three months. The ruling came after Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi withheld assent to 10 pending bills in the state.

Stalin indicated that Murmu's move clearly "exposes" the fact that the Tamil Nadu Governor acted at the BJP’s behest to undermine the people’s mandate.

"This is nothing but a desperate attempt to weaken democratically elected State Governments by placing them under the control of Governors serving as agents of the Union Government," he had had.

The Tamil Nadu CM also asked why there should be any objection to prescribing time limits for Governors to act on bills. He suggested that BJP is trying to "legitimise" its Governors’ obstruction by allowing indefinite delays in Bill assent.

Stalin has been urging the chief ministers of all non-BJP states to oppose the Presidential reference to Supreme Court.

The DMK chief has said that it is well known that the advisory jurisdiction of the Supreme Court cannot be invoked or exercised when the issue in question has already been decided by an authoritative pronouncement of the court.

The Tamil Nadu chief minister said President Droupadi Murmu, under the advice of the Union government, posed the Supreme Court 14 questions, under Article 143 of the Constitution on 13 May, 2025.

Though the reference does not specifically refer to any state or judgement, its intent is to question the findings on law and interpretation of the Constitution given by the Supreme Court in the case of State of Tamil Nadu vs Governor of Tamil Nadu.