Madras High Court to hear MK Stalin's plea over Kolathur election disputes

The Madras High Court is set to determine the maintainability of a legal challenge filed by DMK leader MK Stalin regarding the 2026 Legislative Assembly Elections in the Kolathur constituency. Stalin is contesting the victory of VS Babu from the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam party, alleging failures in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and lapses in Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) verification.

Stalin’s plea seeks directions for the Election Commission of India to conduct a 100% counting of VVPAT slips and to verify all 286 machines used in the constituency. The petitioner highlighted concerns regarding the delayed verification of 14 EVMs, noting that two machines ceased functioning during the inspection process. Additionally, the plea alleges a breach in the chain of custody due to improper labeling and sealing of ballot and control units, arguing these issues undermine the fairness of the electoral process.