Madras High Court Takes Action on Election Petitions
The Madras High Court has issued notifications to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and Minister Aadhav Arjuna concerning petitions that contest their victories in the 2026 Assembly elections. Justice V Lakshminarayanan has mandated these notices following petitions that dispute Vijay’s election successes in Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East, and Arjuna’s win in Villivakkam.
Addressing Procedural Defects
During the proceedings, the Court identified procedural shortcomings in some petitions, specifically regarding affidavits and Form 25. Form 25 is a crucial affidavit required when alleging corrupt practices under the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Justice Lakshminarayanan questioned why these basic procedural requirements were not met, expressing, “Why can’t you sign the affidavit? You are from an experienced political party.” To ensure compliance, the Court allowed a one-week period for rectification of these defects, emphasizing that they did not want the registry to return the petitions.
Expedited Service Notice
The Court permitted the issuance of private notices alongside the standard notification procedure, citing the necessity for expeditious handling of election petitions as prescribed by the Representation of the People Act, 1951. These petitions relate to three Assembly constituencies: Perambur, Tiruchirappalli East, and Villivakkam.
Details of the Petitions
Four different petitions have been filed against Vijay: three regarding his Perambur constituency win and one concerning Tiruchirappalli East. In Perambur, challengers include S Dinesh, RD Shekar, and TN Lakshmi Narasimhan, with Shekar being the DMK candidate. Vijay emerged victorious in Perambur by a margin of 53,715 votes, receiving 1,20,365 votes compared to Shekar’s 66,650, according to the Election Commission.
Vijay’s Tiruchirappalli East victory is contested by S Inigo Irudayaraj, who was defeated by 27,416 votes. Official data shows Vijay received 91,381 votes to Irudayaraj’s 63,965.
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Allegations of Campaign Misconduct
The petitions accuse Vijay and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) affiliates of engaging minors in campaign activities. They cite Vijay’s speech on April 21, 2026, where he allegedly urged children to influence their family’s voting decisions favoring TVK’s “Whistle” symbol. The petitioners argue that this violated the Election Commission’s directive from February 5, 2024, which prohibits involving children in political campaigns.
Additionally, the petitions allege Vijay manipulated children’s emotions to sway votes and also failed to disclose full election expenditures.
Challenges Against Minister Aadhav Arjuna
In Villivakkam, Minister Aadhav Arjuna’s election is under scrutiny through petitions filed by R Sivaraj and Karthik Mohan. Arjuna secured his victory by 17,302 votes, tallying 66,445 votes compared to DMK candidate Karthik Mohan’s 49,143.
Significance of the Petitions
These challenges are pivotal as they question the electoral legitimacy of Vijay, who spearheaded TVK to power in Tamil Nadu, and Aadhav Arjuna, a key figure in the party’s campaign. Under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, such election results can only be contested via petitions to the High Court. Until a court decision, the elected officials retain their positions.
