Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and Governor RN Ravi have been locked in a bitter standoff over the National Anthem’s place in the Assembly business. The controversy started when Governor Ravi. abandoned the Tamil Nadu assembly on January 6, refusing to begin his speech in the absence of the National Anthem. He later described Stalin as having branded “childish” the words used by the incident and warned against “arrogance” which offended the anthem and the Constitution.
Normally, the proceedings of the Tamil Nadu Assembly start with Tamil Thai Valthu (state anthem) and end with National anthem. However, Governor Ravi opposed this practice, insisting that the National Anthem be sung at both the beginning and the end of proceedings, particularly during significant occasions like Independence Day and Republic Day. The Assembly refused this request and this resulted in Ravi’s dramatic walkout.
The Raj Bhavan issued a firm statement against the episode, noting that singing the National Anthem is “a Constitutional duty” and criticised the Assembly for a shown “audacious disrespect.” It represented the Governor’s exit as a mark of protest against what it termed the “audatious disrespect” for the constitution and anthem.
Responding to this, the Chief Minister Stalin tagged the Governor with the accusation of disrespecting the Assembly tradition. Commenting in the Assembly and on X, Stalin remarked on Ravi’s actions as “mammee,” and referred to earlier instances when the Governor took out sections of Government address. Stalin went on to charge that Ravi is incapable of gastroenterology moving along with the cacophony of growth and development of Tamil Nadu. He made the point that the Assembly is the voice of millions of Tamil Nadu people and, as such, it should not be treated frivolously in this way.
— RAJ BHAVAN, TAMIL NADU (@rajbhavan_tn) January 12, 2025
In a sharp reply, the Raj Bhavan has taken to X, stating that it is a fundamental duty under the constitution with respect to the national anthem. It accused Stalin and his coalition of disrespecting both the Constitution and the nation. The blog suggested to avoid complacency and underlined that the anthem and the Constitution should remain the keystone.
Friction between the DMK-led regime and Governor Ravi is not a recent development. Since Ravi’s arrival in 2021, conflict has increased in the context of allegations of political influence and bills being held back. The DMK has accused Ravi of acting as a BJP spokesperson, obstructing state governance, and undermining legislative authority. On the other side, however, Ravi has defended his decision suggesting that according to the relevant Constitutional precedents, the Governor is vested with a power to withhold assent from a Bill.
The current conflci has been broughtto the highest authorities, including Supreme Court and Rashtrapati Bhavan. The legal wrangling and public appearances highlight the acrimonious relationship between the Governor and the state government, with no party willing to concede.
This controversy has also forced the larger question of the role of Governors in state politics to the top of the agenda. According to critics, Governors nominated by the center often function as tools of the center-based ruling party, leading to conflict with state Governors belonging to opposition parties. Proponents, nevertheless, continue to argue that Governors provide crucial checks and balances within a hierarchical federal system.
In the case of Tamil Nadu, the controversy concerning the National Anthem has been interpreted as indicative of the deeper political and ideational divides. Although the DMK advocates Tamil Nadu’s uniqueness and culture identity, the Governor Ravi’s insistence on emphasizing national emblems such as the national anthem is seen as in line with the BJP nationalist policy. This ideological dispute has been used to heighten discussions on federalism, and the scope of state and central power.
As tensions simmer, political analysts predict that such conflicts may persist, given the fundamental differences in governance approaches and priorities. The DMK government seems likely to intensify its control, while the Governor may use his Constitutional role to resist laws or policies that he finds objectionable.
For the people of Tamil Nadu, this [this and other] repeated skirmishes raise questions about governance, and development. Although symbolic issues such as the flag, etc., are important, it is widely thought that collaborative governance is more important to deal with urgent problems such as economic prosperity, welfare of people, and infrastructure construction.
In this process of controversy between the Governor of state of Ravi and the Chief Minister’s satellite (that is the CM Stalin) it highlights the intricate nature of India’s federal system and the interdependence of state and central functions that are required for harmonious cooperation. It will be to be seen whether this controversy brings about resolution or heighten tensions but its ramifications for the administration and political terrain of Tamil Nadu cannot be doubted.
Thiru @mkstalin asserts that insisting on due respect to the National Anthem and doing fundamental duties enshrined in the Constitution is “absurd” and “childish”. Thanks for betraying the true intentions of the coalition of interests and ideologies to which he is a leader that…
— RAJ BHAVAN, TAMIL NADU (@rajbhavan_tn) January 12, 2025
