“Withhold” என்றால் நிராகரிக்கப்பட்டதாகப் பொருள் என விதண்டாவாதமாக பேசும் ஆளுநர், அரசின் கொள்கைகளை - தமிழ்நாட்டு மக்களின் உணர்வுகளை -...

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin strongly condemned Governor R.N. Ravi's public assertion that withholding assent to bills passed by the assembly effectively means their rejection. In the second part of his legislative address, Stalin termed the Governor's argument fallacious and sophistical, noting that such remarks demean state policies, insult the collective will of Tamil Nadu citizens, and violate the constitutional sovereignty of the legislature. Stalin observed that political allegiance to central rulers had completely eclipsed the Governor's constitutional duty.

The Chief Minister clarified that the Indian Constitution does not grant an appointed Governor arbitrary veto power over legislative enactments. When a bill is passed by an elected assembly, the Governor is constitutionally bound to grant assent or return it with observations within a reasonable period. Claiming that withholding assent serves as a pocket veto constitutes a direct assault on representative parliamentary democracy.

Stalin emphasized that the dignity of the gubernatorial office depends entirely on upholding constitutional decorum and respecting elected governments. He warned that treating legislative decisions with contempt damages democratic stability and creates unnecessary constitutional friction between state institutions and the Union.