Rahul Gandhi Accuses Centre of Misusing Governors to Undermine State Governments

 New Delhi, May 21 – Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the central government, alleging that it is "misusing" the office of Governors to suppress regional voices and impede the functioning of democratically elected state governments.

In a strongly worded post on social media platform X, Gandhi described the trend as a “dangerous assault on federalism” and urged for collective resistance.

"India's strength lies in its diversity — a Union of States, each with its own voice. The Modi government is misusing Governors to stifle those voices and obstruct elected state governments. This is a dangerous assault on federalism and it must be resisted," he stated.

Gandhi’s remarks came in response to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin's criticism of the Union government’s move to seek a presidential reference, which Stalin contends undermines a settled constitutional interpretation.

In his post, Stalin denounced the move, claiming it was a direct affront to federal principles and the authority of the judiciary. "This attempt clearly exposes the fact that the Tamil Nadu Governor acted at the BJP's behest to undermine the people's mandate," he wrote.

"This is nothing but a desperate attempt to weaken democratically elected State Governments by placing them under the control of Governors serving as agents of the Union Government. It also directly challenges the majesty of law and the authority of the Supreme Court as the final interpreter of the Constitution," Stalin added.

The Chief Minister further argued that the reference seeks to subvert constitutional clarity already established by the Supreme Court in the Tamil Nadu Governor’s case and other judicial precedents.

The ongoing tension between the Union government and several opposition-ruled states over the role and conduct of Governors has reignited debate over the limits of gubernatorial authority and the safeguarding of India’s federal structure.