Tamil Nadu Governor Ravi walks out of assembly after row over national anthem, says 'wasn't allowed to speak'

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi reiterated that the national anthem should be played along with the state anthem at the start of the Assembly session.

• Tamil Nadu Governor Ravi exits Assembly after anthem protocol dispute
• Governor's address interrupted, citing disrespect to the National Anthem
• Governor's walkout comes ahead of Tamil Nadu Assembly election

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Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi on Tuesday walked out of the Legislative Assembly without delivering the customary address on the opening day of the first session of the year. He entered the House at 9.29 am and left at 9.36 am.

According to ANI, he demanded that the national anthem be played after the Tamil anthem. When Speaker Appavu refused, the Governor walked out without reading the opening address. This is the third time he has walked out. He had boycotted 2024 and 2025 addresses as well.

He reiterated that the national anthem should be played along with the state anthem at the start of the Assembly session.

As proceedings began, Appavu urged the Governor to adhere to established rules and conventions and read out only the customary address approved by the state government. The Speaker’s intervention followed objections from treasury benches over portions of the Governor’s prepared speech.

Responding from the well of the House,  Ravi said it was “unfortunate” that his address was interrupted. He expressed displeasure over the manner in which proceedings unfolded, stating, “I am disappointed. The National Anthem was not given due respect.”

Lok Bhavan, Tamil Nadu, issued a press release informing of the reasons why Ravi walked out of the assembly before delivering his inaugural address.

"The Governor’s mic was repeatedly switched off, and he was not allowed to speak... Atrocities against Dalits and sexual violence against Dalit women are sharply increasing. However, it is totally bypassed in the speech... National Anthem is yet again insulted, and the Fundamental Constitutional Duty is disregarded," the Lok Bhavan statement read.

The showdown between the Governor and Chief Minister MK Stalin's DMK comes three months before the Tamil Nadu Assembly election.

According to a report by NDTV, Appavu told the House the Governor had been formally notified of the protocol and the Chief Minister then moved a resolution to place the Governor's speech on record, despite his walkout.