Chennai, Jan 22 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M.K. Stalin, announced on Thursday that the DMK plans to engage with like-minded opposition parties nationwide to pursue a constitutional amendment aimed at eliminating the practice of the Governor's address during the commencement of the first session of state Assemblies.

In response to a series of confrontations involving Governors and elected governments in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka, CM Stalin accused the Governors of acting as "political operatives" and intentionally undermining the principles of federalism.

In a strongly worded statement on social media platform X, he noted that the ongoing trend across states was unmistakable.

"First Tamil Nadu. Then Kerala. Now Karnataka. The pattern is evident and intentional. Governors are declining to deliver the speeches prepared by state governments and are behaving like political operatives, undermining legitimately elected governments," CM Stalin expressed.

He remarked that the tradition of beginning the first Assembly session with the Governor's address has become "outdated and insignificant" and should be abolished via a constitutional amendment.

The Chief Minister indicated that the DMK would spearhead discussions with opposition parties sharing similar viewpoints, with the goal of advancing the amendment in the upcoming Parliament session.

According to CM Stalin, the repetitive interruptions of the Governor's address have diminished this convention to a political battleground rather than a ceremonial affirmation of democratic governance.

Stalin's comments follow a dramatic incident in the Tamil Nadu Assembly earlier this week, where Governor R.N. Ravi departed before completing his inaugural address.

The Governor subsequently claimed he was disrespected due to the absence of the national anthem and asserted that his microphone was turned off, prompting his exit from the House.

During the Tamil Nadu Assembly session, Speaker M. Appavu urged Governor Ravi to follow established legislative protocols, resulting in heated exchanges.

The incident ignited significant political reactions, with the Raj Bhavan issuing a statement defending the walkout and alleging that the state government's prepared speech omitted references to issues such as atrocities against Dalits and sexual violence against Dalit women.

The controversy also affected the Opposition, with AIADMK leaders staging a walkout over concerns regarding law and order.

As tensions rise between Governors and elected state governments, CM Stalin's proposal reflects a broader initiative to reassess constitutional practices that, according to him, no longer fulfill their intended roles in India's federal democracy.