Governors vs. Government: Constitutional Crisis in Karnataka, TN, Kerala Over Speeches

• Karnataka Governor Thawarchand Gehlot abruptly left the legislature after reading only two lines of his customary address, refusing to deliver the full cabinet-cleared speech.
• The confrontation stemmed from 11 paragraphs in the address critical of the Centre, particularly regarding rural employment and tax devolution.
• This incident follows similar standoffs in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, where Governors either walked out or omitted portions of their speeches.
• Chief Minister Siddaramaiah accused the Governor of acting as a "puppet" of the Centre, emphasizing the Governor's constitutional duty to read the Council of Ministers' prepared address.
• Articles 176 and 163 of the Constitution mandate the Governor to address the legislature based on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers, as reinforced by the Nabam Rebia case (2016).

Why It Matters: Recent incidents in Karnataka, TN, and Kerala highlight a constitutional crisis over Governors' addresses.