NationalWednesday, 8 July 2026·Hindu Tamil Thisai
High Court orders Election Commission reply in petitions challenging victories of E.V. Velu, TVK and Congress MLAs
The Madras High Court has ordered the Election Commission and concerned MLAs to respond in election petitions challenging several 2026 Assembly victories.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In July 2026, the Madras High Court directed the Election Commission and the concerned MLAs to file replies in election petitions challenging victories from the 2026 Assembly polls, including E.V. Velu in Tiruvannamalai and TVK and Congress MLAs in several constituencies.
Key specifics
- Justice T. Bharath Chakravarthy adjourned the hearing to July 21.
- E.V. Velu won the Tiruvannamalai constituency by 2,455 votes over TVK candidate Arul Arumugam.
- In Perundurai, S. Jayakumar won and later resigned before joining TVK; defeated DMK candidate Thoppu Venkatachalam filed the petition.
- Other petitions mentioned Tharakai Kathbut in Kulachal, Ilyaraja in Uthangarai, K. Sivakumar in Salem North, and R. Senthilselvan in Sirkazhi.
- A separate petition was filed against O. Panneerselvam’s victory in Bodinayakkanur by D. Kannan.
Exam lens
Polity and election-law question, Madras High Court, Election Commission, July 21 hearing, 2,455-vote margin, 2026 Assembly election petitions — TNPSC may ask which court ordered replies and which constituencies were involved.