M. K. Stalin challenges Kolathur election results in Madras High Court

DMK president M. K. Stalin has filed a writ petition in the Madras High Court challenging the election results of the Kolathur Assembly constituency. Stalin is seeking to have the election of TVK MLA V. S. Babu nullified and to be declared the elected representative for the area.

The petition focuses on the technical and administrative processes involving Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units. Stalin is requesting a 100% counting of VVPAT slips, citing irregularities during the verification of 14 selected EVM sets. He alleges that a VVPAT unit malfunctioned during a mock poll and another failed during the verification process.

Stalin further contends that there was an inordinate three-month delay between his May 7 application for verification and the commencement of the process on July 29. He argues that the District Election Officer’s conclusion that the verification was successful is inaccurate, as the technical reports provided by engineers failed to sufficiently explain observed discrepancies.