The Madras High Court held a rare three-hour special sitting on Sunday to deliberate over a high-stakes petition challenging a razor-thin election victory in the Tirupattur Assembly constituency. The court is currently considering a request to block the winning candidate from taking his oath of office following a result decided by just a single vote.
The vacation bench, comprised of Justices L. Victoria Gowri and N. Senthilkumar, adjourned the proceedings to Monday, May 11. The court has directed the Election Commission to submit a formal affidavit addressing queries raised during the extensive Sunday hearing.
The legal battle centers on the results of the April 23 Assembly polls in the Tirupattur constituency of Sivaganga district. Former DMK minister K. R. Periyakaruppan, who secured 83,364 votes, is challenging the victory of TVK candidate R. Srinivasa Sethupathi, who was declared the winner with 83,365 votes.
The margin—the narrowest possible in a democratic election—prompted Periyakaruppan to seek judicial intervention immediately following the declaration of results.
In his petition, Periyakaruppan has moved the High Court for two primary forms of relief:
- A comprehensive recount of the votes cast in the Tirupattur constituency.
- An interim injunction to restrain R. Srinivasa Sethupathi from taking the oath of office as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) until the dispute is resolved.
The intensity of the case was reflected in the court’s schedule, with the bench dedicating over three hours on a Sunday to hear arguments from both sides.
The future of the Tirupattur seat now hinges on the Election Commission’s upcoming submission. The High Court’s requirement for an affidavit suggests that the bench is looking for detailed clarification on the polling and counting process before making a determination on whether to stay the oath-taking ceremony or order a recount.
The hearing is scheduled to resume on Monday, May 11, where the court is expected to review the Election Commission’s findings.
