In Chennai, Mr. Ravi declined to read the speech, which, his office said, had “unsubstantiated claims and misleading statements” to justify his walk out. In the past three years, the Governor has either digressed from the prepared speech or refused to read it out before walking out. Stalin has favoured a constitutional amendment to do away with the practice of commencing the first Assembly session of the year with the Governor’s address. Articles 87 and 176 of the Constitution require the President and Governors to make special addresses to Parliament and State legislatures, in the new year. Nothing would be lost if the Articles are scrapped, as the President and the Governors still retain their right to address the legislature under Articles 86 and 175.

Source: The Hindu January 21, 2026 18:51 UTC