Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi, on January 20, 2026, walked out of the Legislative Assembly without delivering the customary address on the first day of the year's first session. This happened just minutes after the Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu, the State anthem, was sung. Soon after, the House adopted a resolution moved by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to take on record only the approved text of the Governor’s address prepared by the State government. Speaker M. Appavu then read out the Tamil version of this address. The Lok Bhavan issued a quick statement supporting the Governor’s walkout. It said the prepared speech had "unsubstantiated claims and misleading statements." It also claimed that "the Governor’s mic was repeatedly switched off and he was not allowed to speak." The statement highlighted several ignored issues such as poor women safety despite rising POCSO rape cases, increasing drug abuse among youth, and rising suicides in the State. It criticized the government for mishandling education with over 50% faculty posts vacant and for failing to hold elections in thousands of village panchayats. It also pointed out mismanagement of temples and stress on MSMEs due to hidden costs. The Governor also called out the insult to the National Anthem and frustrations among lower-ranked employees. This walkout marked the fourth consecutive year that Mr. Ravi left the Assembly without delivering the full speech. After the Speaker began reading the Tamil version of the Governor’s address, AIADMK MLAs, led by Leader of Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami, voiced slogans and staged a walkout, alleging law and order breakdown in Tamil Nadu. This latest episode continues a pattern of tension between the Governor and the State government over the content and delivery of the speech. Assistance for suicidal thoughts is available through state helplines 104, Tele-MANAS 14416, and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050.