Madras HC reserves order on DMK plea over postal ballot in 1-vote Tiruppattur result
Synopsis
A Tamil Nadu assembly seat decided by a single vote is now before the Madras High Court, with DMK's K.R. Periakaruppan alleging a postal ballot was sent to the wrong constituency during counting. The Election Commission says its hands are tied after results are declared — and the court has reserved its orders.
Key Takeaways
Madras High Court reserved orders on a writ petition by DMK candidate K.R.
Periakaruppan over an alleged postal ballot mix-up in Tiruppattur .
TVK candidate Srinivasa Sethupathi defeated Periakaruppan by just one vote — 83,365 vs 83,364 — in results declared on 4 May 2025 .
Periakaruppan alleges a postal ballot for Tiruppattur No.
185 (Sivaganga district) was misdirected to Tiruppattur No.
50 (Tiruppattur district).
The ECI argued the issue was never raised during counting and that its powers are limited once results are officially declared.
Periakaruppan has also sought an interim order barring Sethupathi from participating in the 17th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly proceedings.
The Madras High Court on Monday reserved its orders on a writ petition filed by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) candidate K.R. Periakaruppan, who alleged that a postal ballot was misdirected during counting in the Tiruppattur Assembly constituency, potentially altering the outcome of one of Tamil Nadu's closest-ever assembly contests — decided by a single vote.
The One-Vote Margin That Sparked a Legal Battle
The Tamil Nadu Assembly election results, declared on 4 May 2025, showed TVK candidate Srinivasa Sethupathi defeating DMK's Periakaruppan by a margin of just one vote in the Tiruppattur constituency — Sethupathi polled 83,365 votes against Periakaruppan's 83,364. The razor-thin outcome is among the narrowest in the state's recent electoral history.
The Alleged Postal Ballot Discrepancy
Periakaruppan contends that a postal ballot designated for Tiruppattur Assembly constituency No. 185 in Sivaganga district was mistakenly dispatched to Tiruppattur Assembly constituency No. 50 in Tiruppattur district near Vellore during the counting process. He has sought a High Court direction to secure the disputed ballot and include it in the final tally. He has also sought an interim order restraining Sethupathi from participating in the proceedings of the 17th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly until the matter is resolved.
What the Election Commission Said
The Election Commission of India (ECI) opposed the petition, filing a counter-affidavit through Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik. The Commission stated that the alleged postal ballot mix-up was never raised during the counting process and surfaced only after the declaration of results. It further submitted that Periakaruppan had failed to produce any documentary evidence to substantiate the allegation beyond a supporting affidavit.
Senior counsel G. Rajagopalan, appearing for the ECI, argued that the Returning Officer's authority ceases once results are declared, and no representation seeking recounting or correction can be entertained thereafter.
Point of View
Not writ courts. But the petitioner's counsel has spotted a tactical gap — the Commission's counter-affidavit reportedly did not specifically deny that the postal ballot was misdirected. That silence, if the court reads it as an admission, could complicate the ECI's otherwise solid jurisdictional argument. The broader implication: with two constituencies sharing the 'Tiruppattur' name in different districts, this case may prompt the Commission to revisit ballot-routing protocols for similarly named constituencies across India.
NationPress
12 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Tiruppattur postal ballot case in the Madras High Court?
DMK candidate K.R. Periakaruppan has filed a writ petition in the Madras High Court alleging that a postal ballot meant for Tiruppattur constituency No. 185 in Sivaganga district was mistakenly sent to Tiruppattur constituency No. 50 in Tiruppattur district during counting. The seat was decided by a margin of just one vote in the 2025 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
By how many votes did TVK's Srinivasa Sethupathi win the Tiruppattur seat?
Srinivasa Sethupathi of TVK won the Tiruppattur Assembly constituency by a margin of just one vote, polling 83,365 votes against DMK's Periakaruppan who received 83,364 votes, as per results declared on 4 May 2025.
Why does the Election Commission say it cannot act on the complaint?
The ECI argued before the Madras High Court that once election results are officially declared, the Returning Officer's authority ceases and its own powers become limited. Any challenge to the outcome must be pursued through an election petition under the Representation of the People Act, not through a writ petition.
What relief has Periakaruppan sought from the Madras High Court?
Periakaruppan has sought a court direction to secure the disputed postal ballot and include it in the final vote tally. He has also sought an interim order restraining the winning candidate Srinivasa Sethupathi from participating in the proceedings of the 17th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly until the matter is decided.
What happens next in the Tiruppattur election case?
The Madras High Court vacation bench comprising Justice Victoria Gowri and Justice N. Senthilkumar has reserved its orders on the writ petition. A formal order is awaited, after which the petitioner may need to pursue the matter through an election petition if the writ is dismissed.
