Tue Nov 19 17:29:54 UTC 2024: ## Tamil Nadu Governor’s Short, Tumultuous Reign Ends in Dismissal

**Chennai, November 19, 2024** – Prabhudas Patwari, the former Tamil Nadu Governor, whose tenure was marked by conflict and ultimately ended in his dismissal, is remembered for his attempts to impose his Gandhian principles on the state’s political landscape. Appointed in 1977 following the Janata Party’s victory at the Centre, Patwari, a Congress veteran with a history of civil disobedience, quickly found himself at odds with the ruling AIADMK government.

His clashes began after the AIADMK’s defeat in the 1980 Lok Sabha elections, leading to the imposition of President’s Rule in Tamil Nadu. Following the dismissal of Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran, Patwari controversially overturned several of the AIADMK’s final-day decisions, including a liberalization of liquor permit rules and the transfer of IAS officers. This sparked immediate criticism from the AIADMK and other groups, who accused him of partisanship.

Further straining relations, Patwari’s insistence on implementing strict personal conduct rules within Raj Bhavan, extending even to visiting dignitaries, alienated many, including the then-President N. Sanjiva Reddy. While lauded for his efforts in disaster relief following a severe cyclonic storm in 1977 and for his charitable donations, his strict adherence to Gandhian principles ultimately led to his dismissal four months after MGR’s return to power.

The Hindu’s editorial at the time described his dismissal as a case of “somebody paying for trying to impose lofty principles on others who have no use for them.” While his tenure was short – less than five years – it remains a significant, albeit controversial, chapter in Tamil Nadu’s political history.

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