Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi and the ruling DMK government are once again locked in a fierce public exchange, as the Governor accused the state leadership of fostering caste-based divisions and discouraging unity among citizens. His remarks, made during a recent public event, not only reignited ideological tensions but also drew a sharp political response from the DMK, highlighting the continuing rift between the Raj Bhavan and the state administration.
Governor’s Remarks on Caste and Sanatana Dharma Spark Tension
Governor Ravi stated that Tamil Nadu uniquely suffers from deep-rooted caste divisions and suggested that the political leadership deliberately maintains this divide. Without naming him directly, Ravi also took a dig at Udhayanidhi Stalin, son of Chief Minister MK Stalin, for his controversial 2023 remarks comparing Sanatana Dharma to diseases such as malaria and dengue. Ravi criticized these comparisons and denounced the dismissal of devotional practices like ‘bhakti’ as unscientific, remarks that appeared to stoke already simmering tensions between the Governor and the DMK government.
DMK Retaliates, Labels Governor as Divisive
Reacting strongly to Ravi’s remarks, DMK leader TKS Elangovan accused the Governor of being the one who is dividing society on caste lines. He rejected the notion that the DMK is a caste-based party, and instead turned the accusation around, suggesting that it is the Governor and his associates who are contributing to social disharmony. The heated exchange marks another chapter in the Governor’s ongoing confrontations with the state government, which have increasingly centered on ideological, administrative, and procedural issues.
The strained relationship has played out in other high-profile incidents over the past year. Governor Ravi withheld assent to ten significant state bills—a move that the Supreme Court later ruled as “illegal” and “arbitrary.” Additionally, tensions peaked during last year’s Assembly session when Ravi walked out in protest after the National Anthem was not sung at the beginning, despite traditional protocol reserving it for the end. In a separate incident, Ravi refused to read the customary Governor’s address to the Assembly, citing misleading content in the draft. These ongoing disputes reflect a deep institutional and ideological divide between the state’s elected leadership and the Governor, with each side accusing the other of undermining democratic and social values.
