The tussle between the DMK government in Tamil Nadu and Governor R.N. Ravi has reached the doorsteps of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, with Chief Minister M.K. Stalin writing a letter to President Droupadi Murmu, saying the governor was “instigating communal hatred” in the state.
"Ravi is stoking communal hatred and he is a threat to Tamil Nadu's peace," Stalin said in his letter dated July 8.
The chief minister further alleged that the governor has violated the oath of office he took under Article 159 of the Constitution.
Ravi has crossed swords with the ruling DMK over a number of issues including the anti-NEET, bill but the differences peaked with the arrest of state minister V. Senthil Balaji last month by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a cash for jobs scam.
While opposing the continuance of Balaji in the MK Stalin-led cabinet, Ravi dismissed him from the council of ministers last week in an unprecedented step, only to keep it in abeyance immediately.
Stalin in his letter alleged that the governor's action showed his political slant.
On the one hand, Ravi delayed sanction to prosecute former ministers in the previous AIADMK regime and on the other, through his hasty action in Senthil Balaji's matter, he has displayed his political inclinations, the letter said.
"By way of his behaviour and action, the Governor has proved to be partial and ineligible to hold the office of Governor; Ravi is fit to be removed from the high office," the chief minister said in his letter.