The Hindu reports: The Madras High Court on Tuesday (May 12, 2026) restrained the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) MLA R. Seenivasa Sethupathy from participating in the trust vote to be held on the floor of the Legislative Assembly on or before May 13, 2026, as per the instructions of Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar.A summer vacation Bench of Justices L. Victoria Gowri and N.
Senthilkumar passed the interim order after holding a hearing on Sunday (May 10, 2026) and Monday (May 11, 2026) on an urgent writ petition filed by former Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Minister K.R. Periakaruppan, who had lost by a single vote to the TVK MLA. AIADMK faction led by C.Ve.
Background
Shanmugam declares support to TVK; says EPS wanted to be CM with DMK backingThe writ petitioner claimed to have lost the polls because of two constituencies with the same name, ‘Tirupattur,’ in Tamil Nadu. He brought to the notice of the court that constituency number 50 in Tirupattur district was named Tirupattur, as was constituency number 185 in Sivaganga district, though spelt differently as ‘Tiruppattur’.Due to identical names, one of the postal votes cast in favour of the petitioner in Sivaganga district had been wrongly despatched to Tirupattur district, and that vote was not re-directed to Sivaganga district on the day of counting on May 4, 2026, which had led to the victory of the TVK candidate by one vote, the petitioner claimed.
Key facts
- The Madras High Court on Tuesday (May 12, 2026) restrained the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) MLA R.
- Periakaruppan, who had lost by a single vote to the TVK MLA.
- How a bid to make Thirumavalavan Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister failedSenior counsel Mukul Rohatgi and N.R.
What this means
How a bid to make Thirumavalavan Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister failedSenior counsel Mukul Rohatgi and N.R. Tamil Nadu CM Vijay calls on Stalin, Vaiko, Anbumani, SeemanJudges’ clarification“It is made clear that this interim order shall not be construed as setting aside the declaration of the election of the sixth respondent (Mr. Sethupathy) nor shall it be treated as conferring any right upon the petitioner to be declared elected,” the Bench led by Justice Gowri clarified.The judges also directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to forthwith secure and preserve all records relating to counting of votes in the Tirupattur constituency in Sivaganga district.
They ordered that if there was any postal vote wrongly despatched to Tirupattur district, that should also be secured and sealed. Cyber Crime Wing notice for blocking social media posts draws criticismThe ECI was further directed to preserve the video footage of the counting of postal ballots as well as the re-verification process undertaken after finding that the TVK candidate had won just by one vote against the writ petitioner. The electronic evidence should not be destroyed at any cost, the court said.“This order shall not be construed as a direction for recounting, reaccounting, reopening of ballot papers, validation of rejected postal ballot papers or interference with the declaration of the result already made,” the judges wrote and said, the rights and remedies of all parties are left open to be decided during the final hearing of the main writ petition.The judges directed the High Court Registry to list the main writ petition for further hearing on June 26, 2026.
Originally reported by The Hindu. This story has been edited and re-presented by BRIC Team.
