Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin criticised the move to change the name of governors' official residence, Raj Bhavan, into 'Lok Bhavan', and asked whether the initiative was a 'mere eyewash'. Stalin's comments come amid an ongoing tiff with the governor over granting assent to bills passed by the assembly.
Criticising the move, Stalin said rather than changing the name of Raj Bhavan into Lok Bhavan, what is needed is a change in the mindset to respect elected governments. In a post on X, Stalin said, "As those who did not respect the Assembly effect the name change, is it an eyewash? Is it to deceive the principle of democracy?" he asked.
பெயர் மாற்றத்தைவிடச் சிந்தனை மாற்றமே தேவை!
— M.K.Stalin - தமிழ்நாட்டை தலைகுனிய விடமாட்டேன் (@mkstalin) November 30, 2025
சட்டமன்றம் = மக்கள் மன்றம்! சட்டமன்றத்தை மதிக்காதவர்கள், “மக்கள் மாளிகை” எனப் பெயர் மாற்றுவது கண் துடைப்பா? மக்களாட்சித் தத்துவத்தின் கண்களில் மண்ணைத் தூவுவதற்கா?
மக்களால் தேர்ந்தெடுக்கப்பட்ட அரசுகளையும், மக்களின் விருப்பத்தை நிறைவேற்ற… https://t.co/yDnGBLHTPq
"Respecting the governments elected by the people and the sovereign legislative assembly that fulfils the people's will is the need of the hour! If there is no change in thought and action, this too is unnecessary! The need of the hour is to respect the governments elected by the people and the assembly that fulfils the aspirations of the people," the Opposition chief minister tweeted.
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"If there is going to be no change in thought and deed and then, even this (changing the name of the House of Governor, the Raj Bhavan) is also unnecessary," he added. The chief minister's comments come days after the Supreme Court ruled against setting timelines for governors and presidents for granting assent to bills, against Tamil Nadu's prayers.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led state government is engaged in a tussle with Governor R.N. Ravi over granting assent to bills passed by the assembly. The state government accuses the governor of acting on the behest of the Union government and delaying granting assent to bills passed by the state assembly.