Chennai: Amid sharp differences over a hsot of issues, including on pending Bills at Raj Bhavan, Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin today shared dais at all the four functions attended Prime Minister Narendra Modi here.
Both the Governor and the Chief Minister were present at the airport to receive the Prime Minister, attended the inauguration of new terminal building at airport and also present at the flagging off of Vande Bharat train between Chennai and Coimbatore.
Interestingly, both Mr Ravi and Mr Stalin to seated next to each other in the battery operated vehicle at the Railway Station with Mr Modi seated in the front.
Later, both of them also participated in the 125th anniversary event of Sri Ramakrishna Mutt and at a public function at Alsthom grounds in suburban Pallavaram where Mr Modi launched a host of road infrastructure projects.
Though the ruling DMK and the Raj Bhavan were at loggerheads over a host of issues, including granting assent to the Bill banning online gambling in the State, which was re-adopted for the second time in the present Budget session, in the wake of more than 40
people committing suicide due to loss of several lakhs of money in online rummy.
The earlier Bill, passed on October 19, 2022 to replace the Ordinance promulgated on October 1, 2022–to which the Governor gave his nod– however, was returned to the State Assembly on the ground that it has no powers to pass such a Bill and that Centre alone has the powers.
However, Union Minister Anurag Thakuar, responding to a question in Parliament, said the State government has the powers to enact legislations, including that of banning online gambling in the state, after which the Assembly re-adopted the Bill for the second time
and forwarded it to the Governor for his assent.
