Tamil Nadu Congress To Skip Governor Ravi's I-Day Tea Party: 'Working Against State's Interests'

Tamil Nadu Congress President Selvaperunthagai K took to Twitter to explain the party’s stance, expressing strong disapproval of the Governor's actions.

The Tamil Nadu Congress has announced its decision to boycott the Independence Day tea party to be hosted by Governor RN Ravi on August 15. Tamil Nadu Congress President Selvaperunthagai K took to Twitter to explain the party’s stance, expressing strong disapproval of the Governor's actions.

"The Governor has invited us for a tea party on Independence Day... The activities of Governor RN Ravi have been against the interest of Tamil Nadu and the government elected by the people since the day he took office as the Governor of Tamil Nadu," Selvaperunthagai tweeted. "Therefore, on behalf of the Tamil Nadu Congress, we are ignoring the tea party given by the Governor," he added.

 

This move follows in the footsteps of last year’s boycott by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, who also skipped the Governor's tea party on Independence Day. The decision by the Chief Minister came amid ongoing tensions between the DMK-led state government and Governor Ravi, particularly over his pro-NEET stance. The Governor had previously stated that he would not approve the State’s Bill seeking exemption from the NEET exam, which the DMK government has been fiercely opposing for years.

In January 2024, DMK and its allies boycotted the Republic Day high tea hosted by Governor R N Ravi. Along with the Congress, CPI(M) and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) also boycotted the high tea party at the Raj Bhavan in Chennai.