MK Stalin Moves Madras HC Challenging TVK MLA’s Victory in Kolathur Constituency
DMK chief MK Stalin contests his first electoral loss in 35 years, alleging EVM and VVPAT irregularities in the Kolathur constituency where he was defeated by 8,795 votes.
- On Monday, DMK President M.K. Stalin filed a petition in the Madras High Court challenging TVK candidate V.S. Babu's election victory from the Kolathur Assembly constituency, seeking to declare the April 2026 result void and himself the duly elected winner.
- After losing to Babu by 8,795 votes in April, Stalin requested verification of 14 electronic voting machines representing 5% of Kolathur's 286 polling stations; the process began in late July, nearly three months later.
- Irregularities emerged in five stations with chain-of-custody breaches and VVPAT failures, where Stalin's vote share was 29.87% compared to 40.74% elsewhere; at station 208, a control unit allegedly failed to detect his ballot unit.
- District Election Officer GS Sameeran declared the verification process successful, denying the DMK's allegations; however, Stalin refused to accept this, arguing the order was passed mechanically without addressing specific technical glitches.
- Seeking to address what he termed "serious and irreversible prejudice," Stalin urged the court to order 100% counting of VVPAT slips and verification of all 286 machines deployed in the constituency to ensure electoral integrity.
13 Articles
13 Articles
DMK chief Stalin moves HC against Kolathur assembly poll results
DMK President M K Stalin has filed a petition in the Madras High Court challenging the election of TVK candidate V S Babu from the Kolathur Assembly constituency. Stalin alleges grave irregularities during the checking and verification of EVMs and VVPATs, which he claims were not adequately addressed by the District Election Officer. He seeks a declaration that Babu's election is void and a 100% counting of VVPAT slips.
DMK chief Stalin moves High Court challenging TVK candidate V.S. Babu’s victory in Kolathur
He also sought a direction to the authorities to conduct 100% counting of VVPAT slips relating to Kolathur Assembly constituency and the checking and verification of all 286 machines deployed in Kolathur constituency.
MK Stalin moves Madras HC challenging TVK candidate VS Babu's victory in Kolathur, seeks recount of vote
MK Stalin lost his stronghold of Kolathur to VS Babu of the newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in the 2026 state assembly elections. He was a three-time MLA from Kolathur, but could not manage to secure the seat for the fourth consecutive time.
MK Stalin Challenges Kolathur Defeat in Madras High Court, Alleges EVM Discrepancies
DMK president and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has filed a petition in the Madras High Court challenging the election victory of TVK candidate VS Babu in the Kolathur constituency. Kolathur had been a stronghold for Stalin since 2011. Stalin's plea alleges that post-poll inspections revealed discrepancies in VVPAT slips alongside technical and hardware malfunctions in EVMs across multiple polling booths. He has declared VS Babu's w…
Stalin moves Madras High Court over his defeat from Kolathur, seeks full VVPAT count
The writ petition also urges the High Court to preserve CCTV footage, custody registers, technical reports and other records connected with the verification; quash the August 5 certification granted to his TVK rival; and examine all 286 machines
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