Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi walked out of the state Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, before delivering the customary address, marking the third consecutive year he has done so. The Governor cited multiple reasons for his refusal to read the speech prepared by the MK Stalin-led DMK government, sparking a fresh controversy and further straining the relationship between Raj Bhavan and the state government.

Here are the 13 reasons, according to a statement released by Lok Bhavan, the Governor's office, explaining his actions:

1. Disrespect to the National Anthem: Governor Ravi alleged that the national anthem was not given due respect. He insisted that the national anthem should have been played at the beginning of the session, instead of the Tamil anthem.
2. Microphone Muted: The Governor claimed that his microphone was repeatedly switched off, preventing him from speaking and denying him the opportunity to place his views before the House.
3. Unsubstantiated Claims and Misleading Statements: The Governor's office asserted that the address contained numerous unsubstantiated claims and misleading statements.
4. Ignored Crucial Issues: Several critical issues troubling the people were allegedly ignored in the government-prepared speech.
5. Inflated Investment Claims: The Governor disputed the Tamil Nadu government's claim of attracting huge investments to the tune of over Rs 12 lakh crore, stating that the actual investment was far from the truth and many MOUs remained only on paper.
6. Declining Investment Attractiveness: Investment data indicated that Tamil Nadu was becoming less attractive for investors, with its foreign direct investment ranking slipping from fourth to sixth among states.
7. Women's Safety Neglected: The statement claimed that the issue of women's safety was totally ignored, despite an alarming increase of over 55% in POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) rape cases and over 33% increase in incidents of sexual molestation of women.
8. Drug Abuse Crisis: The Governor's office highlighted the rampant prevalence of narcotics and drugs and a sharp increase in drug abuse cases among youth, including school students, with over 2,000 suicides in one year due to drug abuse being casually bypassed.
9. Atrocities Against Dalits: The Governor contended that atrocities against Dalits and sexual violence against Dalit women were sharply increasing but totally bypassed in the speech.
10. High Suicide Rate: The statement noted that approximately 20,000 people in Tamil Nadu had committed suicide in one year, with the state being referred to as the "Suicide Capital of India," a matter that purportedly did not concern the government.
11. Declining Education Standards: There was allegedly a steady decline in the standards of education and widespread mismanagement in educational institutions, adversely affecting the future of the youth, with more than 50% of faculty positions vacant for years.
12. MSME Sector Neglect: The Governor stated that entrepreneurs from Tamil Nadu were forced to locate their enterprises in other states and that the issue was completely ignored, despite the enormous potential for growth in the MSME sector.
13. Discontent Among Lower Rung Employees: The Governor cited widespread discontentment among lower-rung employees in almost all sectors, with no mention of ways to address their genuine grievances.

In response to the Governor's walkout, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin condemned the action as a violation of tradition and ethos, accusing Ravi of "deliberately" insulting the House. Stalin moved a resolution to deem the English version of the address as having been read. Speaker M. Appavu asserted that the House would continue to function in accordance with established legislative practices. The AIADMK also staged a walkout, protesting against the DMK-led state government, citing law and order issues. This incident has further intensified the political atmosphere in Tamil Nadu, especially with the Assembly elections approaching.