Ex-Minister Challenges Election Loss by One Vote Over Ballot Mix-Up

Former Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Minister K.R. Periakaruppan on Sunday filed an urgent writ petition before the Madras High Court, claiming that the presence of two Assembly constituencies named 'Tirupattur' in Tamil Nadu led to a postal ballot in his favor being misrouted, resulting in his defeat by a single vote in the 2026 elections. He contested from Tirupattur (Constituency 50) in Sivaganga district, while the ballot was sent to Tirupattur (Constituency 185) in Tirupattur district.

Periakaruppan's legal team, led by senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi and N.R. Elango, argued that the wrongly routed postal vote, if counted, would have tied the results between him and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) winner R. Seenivasa Sethupathy, necessitating a winner determination by lot. They cited an affidavit from DMK counting agent S. Rajendran, who confirmed a postal ballot for Periakaruppan was excluded in Tirupattur district and only reported after the results were declared on May 4.

Opposing counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi and V. Raghavachari, representing MLA Sethupathy, contended the petition was improperly filed under writ jurisdiction and should instead be an election petition. Election Commission counsel Tarun Rao Kallakuru stated postal ballots are routed by PIN code, making misdirection unlikely, and that the Returning Officer was functus officio post-result declaration.

The Madras High Court, hearing the matter during a special vacation bench session, did not issue any immediate order but directed the Election Commission to file its written submissions. The court adjourned the hearing to May 11, 2026.