Tensions between the Tamil Nadu Governor and the State Legislature has evolved from simmering discomfort to a full-blown constitutional soap opera.
The latest episode in Tamil Nadu’s unscripted constitutional drama unfolded in Patna, where Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker M. Appavu staged a dramatic walkout from the All India Presiding Officers’ Conference. His gripe? Governor R.N. Ravi’s alleged penchant for trampling constitutional principles, disrespecting the state’s century-old assembly, and apparently, his knack for being an uncooperative guest at Tamil Nadu’s democratic table.
Appavu’s outburst wasn’t entirely unexpected. His speech was a fiery critique of what he sees as the Governor’s overreach. Accusing Ravi of skipping his constitutional duty to deliver the Assembly’s annual address, editing speeches with a political scalpel, and even offending national pride by disrespecting the anthem, Appavu painted a picture of a Governor more at home as a provocateur than a unifier.
The Speaker even revisited dusty recommendations from commissions past—the Sarkaria, Punchhi, and Rajamannar reports—to argue that Governors should be answerable to the legislature they serve. His proposed solution? Allow state legislatures to boot Governors out of office through resolutions, a move as radical as it is unlikely to pass in India’s current political climate. Predictably, Harivansh shut the idea down faster than a misbehaving MP’s mic.
The Governor-versus-state saga isn’t limited to Tamil Nadu. Across India, especially in opposition-ruled states, Governors seem to have swapped their ceremonial turbans for political helmets. Appavu’s grievances included everything from holding up welfare schemes to using their chancellorship of state universities to push the Union government’s agenda—a violation, he claimed, of constitutional federalism.
If Ravi’s actions have drawn Tamil Nadu’s ire, his critics argue they also expose a broader malaise in India’s federal setup. Governors were envisioned as neutral umpires in the Centre-State match, not the captain of the visiting team. Yet, Appavu’s claim of Governors acting as Delhi’s enforcers has gained traction, with examples cropping up from Maharashtra to Kerala. While this tactic might bring short-term political gains for the ruling party at the Centre, it risks deepening the Centre-State divide and turning federalism into farce.
Adding linguistic fuel to the fire, Appavu also took a jab at the Union government for its increasing reliance on Hindi in parliamentary bills. He dubbed this a violation of Article 348 of the Constitution, which requires English translations, leaving non-Hindi-speaking states feeling left out of the national legislative conversation.
Appavu’s walkout underscores the larger, unspoken question of the Governor’s relevance in modern India. Critics argue that Governors, a colonial relic designed to keep rebellious provinces in check, have outlived their utility. Their powers, ambiguously defined in the Constitution, leave ample room for mischief—a loophole exploited by successive governments to settle political scores.
For Ravi, being the protagonist (or antagonist, depending on your vantage point) of Tamil Nadu’s political drama is likely a feature, not a bug, of his role. Governors in opposition-ruled states often find themselves in the spotlight, whether it is vetoing legislation, delaying bills or rewriting ceremonial speeches. The Tamil Nadu government’s frustration is about a perceived pattern of Governors treating state governments as if they were branch offices of the Union.
If Governors and state governments continue to treat each other with mutual suspicion—and outright disdain—India’s federalism could end up as little more than a paper tiger, enshrined in the Constitution but trampled in practice.
For now, Tamil Nadu’s drama remains unresolved. Appavu may have walked out, but his demands, whether for constitutional amendments or respect for state autonomy, aren’t likely to vanish. Meanwhile, Ravi continues to enjoy his role as the lightning rod of Tamil Nadu’s political tempest. The question is not whether this drama will continue but rather who will have the last laugh: the Speaker, the Governor or perhaps the people of Tamil Nadu, watching this tragicomedy play out with equal parts bemusement and exasperation.
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