Archive · 3 Sep 2026
Madras High Court Dismisses Stalin’s Challenge to TVK Victory
MK Stalin lost the Kolathur election to VS Babu by 8,795 votes.
Stalin asked the court to check all the electronic voting machines used there.
He also wanted every paper voting slip to be counted.
Stalin said some machines and their records had problems during checking.
He argued that delays by election officials made it harder for him to challenge the result.
The Election Commission said he used the wrong legal process.
The Madras High Court agreed that his petition was not maintainable.
The court therefore dismissed his challenge to Babu’s victory.
The Madras High Court dismissed MK Stalin’s petition challenging VS Babu’s victory in the Kolathur Assembly constituency.
The court ruled that Stalin’s plea was not maintainable.
Babu defeated Stalin by 8,795 votes, receiving 82,997 votes compared with Stalin’s 74,202.
Stalin had sought verification of all 286 EVMs and counting of 100% of VVPAT slips.
The Election Commission argued that the result could be challenged only through an election petition under the Representation of the People Act.
- Who
- DMK chief MK Stalin, TVK candidate VS Babu, and the Election Commission were involved.
- What
- The Madras High Court dismissed Stalin’s challenge to Babu’s Kolathur election victory and his request for comprehensive EVM and VVPAT checks.
- When
- The election results were declared on May 4; Stalin applied for EVM verification on May 7, and the High Court dismissed his petition on Thursday.
- Where
- The dispute concerns the Kolathur Assembly constituency in northern Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and was heard by the Madras High Court.
- Why
- Stalin cited alleged technical and procedural irregularities, while the Election Commission said the challenge had to be filed as an election petition under the Representation of the People Act.
Stalin’s Position
Election Commission’s Position
EVM and VVPAT checks
Stalin’s Position
Stalin sought verification of all 286 EVMs and counting of every VVPAT slip, citing reported machine errors, incomplete tags, and other procedural concerns.
Election Commission’s Position
The Election Commission opposed the requested recount, arguing that it would amount to challenging the election result.
Delays and legal remedy
Stalin’s Position
Stalin’s lawyers argued that he applied for verification within the permitted period and should not lose his legal remedy because officials delayed the exercise.
Election Commission’s Position
The Election Commission argued that Stalin should have filed an election petition within the prescribed time under the Representation of the People Act.
Election result
Stalin’s Position
Stalin sought invalidation of Babu’s election and a declaration that he be elected from Kolathur.
Election Commission’s Position
The Election Commission defended the procedural basis of the declared result, and the court dismissed Stalin’s writ petition as not maintainable.
- Court ruling
- The Madras High Court dismissed Stalin’s petition as not maintainable.
- Constituency
- Kolathur Assembly constituency, Tamil Nadu
- Winner
- VS Babu of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam
- Winning margin
- 8,795 votes
- Vote totals
- VS Babu: 82,997; MK Stalin: 74,202
- EVM request
- Stalin initially sought verification of 14 of the 286 EVM sets used in Kolathur.
- Later demands
- He sought verification of all 286 EVMs and counting of 100% of VVPAT slips.
- Verification period
- The EVM verification exercise began on July 29 and was completed on August 5.
