If you have been keeping an eye on the news lately, you probably saw the headlines about Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi walking out of the State Assembly. At first glance, it seemed like the drama was solely about when and how the National Anthem should be played. However, it turns out there is a lot more to the story than just a disagreement over a song.Recently, Raj Bhavan released a list of 13 specific reasons explaining why the Governor felt he couldn't stay. While the media initially focused on the National Anthem issue, these points suggest a deep-seated tension between the Governor’s office and the state government that has been simmering for quite some time.It wasn't just a sudden decisionAccording to the statement from Raj Bhavan, the friction started long before the Governor even stood up to leave. One of the main points raised was about the speech itself. Usually, the Governor’s address to the assembly is prepared by the state government, but RN Ravi pointed out that several portions were misleading or Factually incorrect. He felt that by reading it as it was, he would be endorsing statements that didn't align with reality.The National Anthem controversyLet’s talk about the anthem. In many states, the Governor’s speech begins and ends with the National Anthem to maintain a sense of decorum and respect. In Tamil Nadu, the Governor had requested that the anthem be played at the start of the session, but the assembly followed its traditional practice of playing the state anthem (Tamil Thai Valthu) at the beginning and the National Anthem at the end. To RN Ravi, this felt like a skip in the formal protocol.What were the other 13 reasons?The Raj Bhavan didn't hold back. They listed issues ranging from personal attacks made on the floor of the house to the way the government handled the legislative process. Some of the highlights included:Why this matters to usWhen the top constitutional head of a state and the elected government are this much at odds, it affects how things get done. It’s not just about a walkout; it’s about the friction in governing one of India’s most important states. Whether it is a question of protocol or a deep political divide, this incident shows that the relationship between the Raj Bhavan and the DMK-led government has reached a very tricky spot.It is easy to label these incidents as mere political theater, but the 13 reasons provided by the Governor’s team suggest that the issues are procedural, constitutional, and deeply personal. As the debate continues, it will be interesting to see if both sides can find a middle ground or if this rift will only grow wider in the coming months.
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