5 days ago
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A nationalist involvement litigation petition has been filed successful the Madras High Court for ordering an enquiry by Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay having made an entreaty to kids to guarantee that the adults successful their families ballot for his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) enactment during the 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly polls.
A summertime abrogation Bench of Justices G.R. Swaminathan and V. Lakshminarayanan connected Thursday (May 21, 2026) sought the effect of ECI by May 29, 2026 to the PIL petition which has besides sought an enquiry regarding allegations of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) having distributed currency for votes.
L. Vasuki, a 39-year-old advocator from Cuddalore territory had filed the lawsuit done her counsel Kanimozhi Mathi. The litigant pointed retired that the polling for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections were held connected April 23, 2026 and the results were declared connected May 4, 2026. During the people of campaigning, astir each large governmental parties indulged successful electoral malpractices, she alleged.
Referring to the Chief Minister’s past predetermination run code delivered astatine the YMCA grounds successful Chennai connected April 21, 2026 erstwhile helium had made an earnest entreaty to children to guarantee that each the adults successful their families ballot for TVK, the petitioner claimed that the entreaty amounted to “exploitation of insignificant children for electoral propaganda and indirect elector influence.”
She besides brought to the announcement of the tribunal a fig of videos that were posted connected the societal media of children pressurising their parents, expansive parents, uncles, aunts, elder brothers and elder sisters to ballot for TVK. Contending that the entreaty by the Chief Minister would autumn nether the explanation of electoral corrupt practice, the litigant said, the ECI ought to person taken contiguous action.
Further, referring to a practice made by anti corruption organisation Arappor Iyakkam to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) connected April 22, 2026 for rescinding the polls successful Alangulam, Mylapore and Tirumangalam constituencies, the petitioner said, the practice had intelligibly highlighted organisation of wealth to the voters by the DMK and AIADMK members successful those constituencies.
“Despite the seriousness of the allegations affecting the purity of the electoral process, nary effectual oregon transparent enquiry appears to person been initiated by respondents 1 (ECI) and 2 (CEO),” the petitioner complained to the tribunal and sought a absorption to the committee to behaviour a clip bound and autarkic enquiry into the contented of governmental parties having indulged successful corrupt practices.
