Madras High Court Dismisses MK Stalin’s Plea Over Kolathur Election Defeat
Court rejects Stalin’s plea challenging TVK’s Kolathur election victory.
DMK chief MK Stalin suffered a legal setback on Thursday after the Madras High Court dismissed his plea seeking 100 per cent counting of VVPAT slips in the Kolathur Assembly constituency, where he was defeated by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) candidate VS Babu in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Stalin had also sought the invalidation of Babu’s election and a declaration that he be elected from the constituency.
Babu defeated Stalin by 8,795 votes, securing 82,997 votes compared with Stalin’s 74,202. The result marked a significant reversal in Kolathur, a constituency Stalin had won in three consecutive elections since it was formed in 2011. The DMK leader’s petition had challenged aspects of the post-election verification process involving electronic voting machines and VVPAT slips.
The Election Commission had opposed the maintainability of Stalin’s writ petition, arguing that an election result can be challenged only through an election petition under the Representation of the People Act. The poll panel maintained that Stalin should have followed that legal route within the prescribed period for challenging an election. The High Court ultimately dismissed his plea, leaving the question of any further legal challenge open.
Also Read: MK Stalin Challenges TVK’s Kolathur Victory In Madras High Court, Seeks Election Cancellation
The dispute also concerns the timing of EVM verification. Following the election results declared on May 4, Stalin applied on May 7 for verification of 14 EVM sets, representing five per cent of the 286 sets used in the constituency. However, the verification process began on July 29 and was completed on August 5. Stalin argued that the delay affected his ability to pursue an election-related legal remedy within the prescribed timeframe.
Babu, following his victory, attributed the result to TVK chief Vijay and the party’s connection with voters in Kolathur. He also pointed to an apparent desire for political change among residents. Babu highlighted his longstanding association with the area and argued that his familiarity with local voters helped the party understand their concerns. The High Court ruling is a setback for Stalin’s effort to seek comprehensive VVPAT verification and challenge the Kolathur result through the present proceedings. It remains unclear whether the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister will approach the Supreme Court against the order.
Also Read: Madras High Court To Rule On Stalin’s Kolathur Election Challenge Today
