MK Stalin Challenges TVK’s Kolathur Victory In Madras High Court, Seeks Election Cancellation

DMK president and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday filed an election petition before the Madras High Court challenging the victory of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) candidate V.S. Babu from the Kolathur Assembly constituency. Stalin has questioned the conduct of the election and sought judicial intervention, including a recount of votes, citing alleged problems involving electronic voting machines and VVPAT systems. In his petition, Stalin has alleged that there were malfunctions in voting machines and irregularities associated with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines during the election.

Based on these allegations, he has requested the court to order a recount of votes cast in the Kolathur constituency. The petition places the conduct and outcome of the closely watched constituency before the High Court for examination. Stalin has also sought a declaration that Babu's election from Kolathur be declared void. In addition, the DMK leader has asked the court to declare him the winner of the constituency. The requests form part of the election petition challenging the result and seek to overturn the outcome announced after the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

The result was particularly significant because Kolathur had been considered Stalin's political stronghold. In the 2026 Assembly election, however, he was defeated by Babu, who contested the seat for the newly formed TVK. Babu won the constituency by 8,795 votes, delivering a major political upset and ending Stalin's hold over a seat that had been closely associated with him. The defeat attracted considerable attention because of Stalin's position as DMK president and his previous tenure as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.

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Kolathur has been an important constituency in his political career, making the victory by TVK a notable development in the state's electoral landscape. TVK, a relatively new political force, has sought to establish itself as a significant player in Tamil Nadu politics. Stalin's legal challenge now places the election result before the Madras High Court. The court's consideration of the petition will determine how the allegations concerning voting machines and VVPAT procedures are addressed and whether the grounds cited are sufficient to warrant the requested recount or other relief.

The filing itself does not automatically alter the declared election result, which remains subject to the legal proceedings. The case could attract significant political attention because it involves one of Tamil Nadu's most prominent leaders and a constituency regarded as his stronghold. A judicial examination of the allegations could also draw wider interest because questions concerning EVMs and VVPAT procedures have been a recurring issue in electoral disputes. For now, Babu remains the declared winner of Kolathur, while Stalin is seeking to have the result set aside and himself declared elected through the legal process.

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