DMK's M.K. Stalin Files Election Petition in Madras High Court Against TVK's V.S. Babu Over Kolathur Result

DMK president and former Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin filed an election petition in the Madras High Court on August 24, challenging the victory of TVK candidate V.S. Babu from the Kolathur assembly constituency in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election.

The petition cites alleged malfunctions in electronic voting machines and irregularities involving VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) machines during the polling process, and seeks a recount of votes cast in the Kolathur constituency.

Stalin has sought a declaration that Babu's election be set aside as void, and that he himself be declared the winner from the constituency.

Stalin, a three-time sitting MLA from Kolathur, lost the seat to V.S. Babu of the newly formed TVK by a margin of 8,795 votes in the 2026 Assembly election, marking his first defeat from the constituency.