TN Governor Denies Govt’s Charge of Delaying Approval for Bills

By The Vagabond News Bureau | Chennai | November 8, 2025

Governor R.N. Ravi Refutes Allegations Amid Escalating DMK-Raj Bhavan Rift

CHENNAI — Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi on Friday rejected the DMK government’s accusation that he had intentionally delayed approval of key state Bills, calling the claims “politically motivated” and “contrary to constitutional reality.”

In a statement released by the Raj Bhavan, the Governor asserted that every Bill forwarded by the Assembly had been “examined on merit” and that “no constitutional authority can act in haste merely to satisfy political timelines.”

“The Governor has always kept his doors open for discussion with the Chief Minister and Ministers. The delays alleged are a misinterpretation of due diligence,”
said the official communiqué from the Governor’s office.

Background: A Long-Running Power Struggle

The clash between Raj Bhavan and Fort St. George has been building for over a year.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has repeatedly accused Governor Ravi of sitting on over a dozen Bills, including those dealing with university appointments, Lokayukta reforms, and police oversight mechanisms.

In April 2024, the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a special resolution urging President Droupadi Murmu to intervene, marking a rare escalation in state-centre friction.

Governor’s Defence: “Following Constitutional Process”

Ravi clarified that his scrutiny of Bills was based on legal vetting and not political intent.
He claimed several Bills were returned for reconsideration due to “deficiencies in drafting and procedural lapses.”

“The Governor is not a rubber stamp. The office carries a constitutional duty to protect legality and propriety,”
the statement emphasized.

DMK Government Responds

Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thenarasu accused Ravi of “behaving like a political appointee rather than a constitutional head.”
He said the Governor’s approach had “undermined democratic governance” and that the state would continue to demand legislative autonomy.

“Governors cannot be gatekeepers of political agendas. Tamil Nadu’s voice cannot be silenced through procedural excuses,”
Thenarasu told reporters outside the Secretariat.

Legal and Political Implications

The standoff underscores a widening constitutional tension between non-BJP state governments and centrally appointed Governors.
Constitutional experts note that Article 200 gives Governors the discretion to return Bills for reconsideration but sets no fixed time limit, creating a grey area often exploited for political ends.

Political analyst R. Sundaram told The Vagabond News,

“The issue is not law versus politics — it’s about federal trust. When that breaks down, governance itself becomes collateral damage.”

Context: The Larger Federal Debate

The confrontation mirrors similar disputes in Kerala, Punjab, and West Bengal, where state leaders have accused Governors of weaponizing delay tactics to slow state policy initiatives.