Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi left the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly as the session began, reigniting a protocol disagreement from the previous year. Traditionally, the Governor addresses the Assembly at the start of the first session of the year, which this time coincided with upcoming elections, adding political significance. However, the situation turned tense when the Governor exited after a Tamil invocation instead of the National Anthem.
This marks the second consecutive year that Governor Ravi has left the Assembly due to this issue. Last year, in 2025, he did the same, insisting on the National Anthem being sung at the session’s outset. Despite briefly greeting in Tamil, the Governor departed without delivering the usual address.
The Speaker informed the Assembly that the matter had been addressed previously. He mentioned that the Governor had raised concerns about the National Anthem last year, and a response had been provided. Former Speaker Durai Murugan also clarified the Assembly’s customs, indicating that the issue was considered resolved, allowing the House to continue following established practices.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin proposed a resolution acknowledging the Governor’s address, even though he had left. The resolution was unanimously accepted, enabling the Assembly to proceed with its agenda. Speaker Appavu highlighted the state government’s welfare efforts and economic achievements during the session, emphasizing Tamil Nadu’s remarkable economic growth under the current administration and citing the Pongal festival assistance scheme as a notable example.
