Archive · 1 Sep 2026
Madras HC to Assess Stalin Petition Against TVK Kolathur Win
M.K. Stalin has asked the Madras High Court to examine the result of an election in Kolathur.
The winner was Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam candidate V.S. Babu.
Stalin says some voting machines and paper records did not match properly.
He also says some machines had technical problems.
Two VVPAT machines reportedly stopped working during checks.
The petition says printed voting slips from 14 polling stations could not be located.
Stalin wants all the machines checked and all VVPAT slips counted.
The court will first decide whether it is legally allowed to hear the petition.
The court has not yet ruled on whether the election result should be cancelled.
The Madras High Court will consider whether M.K. Stalin’s election petition is maintainable.
Stalin is challenging Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam candidate V.S. Babu’s Kolathur victory in the 2026 Assembly elections.
He alleges discrepancies among VVPAT, control-unit and ballot-unit counts, along with EVM technical faults.
The petition cites malfunctioning VVPATs, missing printed slips and mismatched ballot-unit address tags.
Stalin seeks cancellation of Babu’s election and verification of all 286 EVMs and 100% VVPAT counting.
- Who
- Former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin challenged the victory of Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam candidate V.S. Babu; the petition is being considered by the Madras High Court.
- What
- The court is considering the maintainability of Stalin’s petition alleging vote-counting discrepancies and technical faults in electronic voting machines.
- When
- The Madras High Court addressed the matter on Monday; the disputed election was held for the 2026 Assembly elections.
- Where
- The dispute concerns the Kolathur constituency, and the proceedings are before the Madras High Court in Chennai.
- Why
- Stalin alleges mismatches among VVPAT, control-unit and ballot-unit records, along with technical problems involving EVMs and VVPATs.
Stalin’s Petition
Election Authorities’ Response
Whether the petition can proceed
Stalin’s Petition
Stalin’s side, represented by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, is asking the court to examine the election challenge and its allegations.
Election Authorities’ Response
The Election Commission of India, represented by senior lawyer Sheshadri Naidu, is participating in arguments on whether the petition is maintainable; the court has not yet ruled.
Reliability of voting records
Stalin’s Petition
Stalin alleges mismatches among VVPAT, control-unit and ballot-unit records, as well as technical faults that could have affected the result.
Election Authorities’ Response
The article reports the Election Commission’s participation in the maintainability hearing but does not state its substantive response to each alleged discrepancy.
Requested remedy
Stalin’s Petition
Stalin seeks to nullify Babu’s election and have all 286 EVMs checked, with 100% counting of VVPAT slips.
Election Authorities’ Response
No final position on these remedies is reported; the court is first set to decide whether the petition is maintainable.
- Court
- Madras High Court
- Bench
- Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan
- Disputed constituency
- Kolathur
- Winning candidate
- V.S. Babu of Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam
- EVMs used
- 286
- Petitioner’s request
- Cancel Babu’s election, conduct 100% VVPAT counting and check all 286 EVMs
- Alleged affected vote share
- 29.87% of the vote share in EVMs described as defective, failed or breached