Tamil Nadu's DMK writes to President: "sack Governor immediately, unfit to hold office"

Chennai: The ruling DMK party in Tamil Nadu has sent a petition to the President asking for the removal of Governor RN Ravi for "obstructing a democratically elected government from serving the people" and labelling him "a threat to peace." The DMK has claimed that he incites communal hatred.

"Governor RN Ravi has violated the oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and the law," the DMK said in its submission to Droupadi Murmu. It has been claimed that he unreasonably delays assent to bills enacted by the assembly.

"Some might even consider his statements seditious as his statements attempt to excite disaffection towards the government," the party led by Chief Minister MK Stalin said further, terming RN Ravi unfit for the constitutional office. "He deserves to be sacked," it said.

To this, Governor Ravi has not responded, NDTV reported.

In a letter sent earlier this month, the DMK urged "all the like-minded MPs" to support a motion calling for RN Ravi's removal.

In Tamil Nadu, there are 20 bills pending the governor's approval. A governor may be appointed or dismissed by the President, according to the legislation. The governor may send a bill back once the state cabinet has sent it for approval. The measure cannot be sent back if the cabinet resends it to the governor.

Tamil Nadu is one of three Southern states along with Kerala, and Telangana where the governors and the ruling parties clash on a nearly regular basis.

Party leaders have criticized these governors as acting like "puppets of the Centre," blaming their conduct on a BJP-supported political vendetta. The parties, who are important regional forces, have been attempting to unite their numbers across party and provincial lines, and confront the BJP, which is in power at the central level.

The governor of Telangana is also allegedly interfering in Tamil Nadu's issue.

Tamilisai Soundararajan, the governor of Telangana, has been accused by the DMK of "poking her nose" into the politics of the state. Before taking office, she was a prominent BJP figure in Tamil Nadu. The TRS of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao is criticising Ms Soundararajan for recruitment at state universities.

Governor Soundararajan said that the party's senior political dynasty has Telugu roots, to which DMK spokeswoman Murasoli reacted. "Telangana Governor should not do politics in Tamil Nadu. This is not her job. Let her resign and do politics in Tamil Nadu," it said, adding that Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi already "exceeds limits and makes remarks causing confusion".