The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly’s first session of the year is set to start on Monday, with Governor R.N. Ravi slated to speak to the House. Traditionally, the Governor will receive a ceremonial welcome upon arrival at the Assembly. Speaker M. Appavu and Legislative Assembly Principal Secretary Srinivasan will accompany him, with the Speaker seated next to the Governor during the address.
The Governor’s speech has once again raised political and procedural uncertainties. In 2024 and 2025, Governor Ravi had opted out of delivering the customary address due to the state government’s refusal to sing the national anthem at the beginning of the event, as per his preference. It remains uncertain whether the Governor will proceed with the speech this year or choose not to deliver it, with clarity expected later in the day.
The session will kick off with the Tamil Thai Vazhthu (Tamil invocation) followed by the Governor’s address in English. The Speaker will present the Tamil translation of the speech. If the Governor decides against delivering the address, the Speaker will read it in full and formally conclude the session. The day’s proceedings will conclude with the national anthem.
After the formalities, the Business Advisory Committee will convene in the Speaker’s chamber to determine the session’s duration. On January 21, the House will likely pass an obituary reference for the late MLA Ponnusamy, followed by a probable adjournment. The motion of thanks to the Governor’s address is scheduled for January 22, with detailed discussions by legislators in the following days. The session’s final day, January 24, will see Chief Minister M.K. Stalin providing his response to the debate.
As the Assembly elections draw near, this session holds significant political importance. Opposition parties such as the AIADMK and the BJP are gearing up to raise allegations against the ruling party and the government. The Chief Minister and his Cabinet are readying their responses, setting the stage for a highly charged and politically intense Assembly session.
