The Madras High Court on Friday refused to dismiss an election petition challenging DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin’s victory from the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni Assembly constituency in the 2026 Tamil Nadu elections. [Milany Vs Udayanidhi Stalin]

Justice Arul Murugan dismissed Udhayanidhi’s preliminary applications seeking rejection of the election petition filed by independent candidate P Milany who lost the election to Stalin.

The Court directed Stalin to file his written statement (response to the petition) within four weeks. It clarified that the observations in its order were confined to deciding the preliminary applications.

Udhayanidhi was declared elected on May 4, 2026 after securing 62,992 votes as against his nearest rival D Selvam of TVK, who polled 55,852 votes.

Milany secured only 30 votes. His election petition was filed on June 18.

Milany raised allegations concerning Stalin’s nomination papers and election affidavit.

Stalin subsequently filed applications seeking rejection of the election petition at the threshold and striking out of its pleadings. He contended that the challenge had been instituted beyond the statutory 45-day period prescribed for filing an election petition.

Justice Arul Murugan concluded oral arguments on these applications on October 22 before delivering its verdict today.

Milany had initially approached the Election Commission to obtain election records.

After it was denied, he approached the Madras High Court for the same. He sought certified copies of Stalin’s accepted nomination paper in Form 2B, the accompanying affidavit and the checklist of documents submitted with the nomination.

He also sought rejected nomination papers, objections raised during scrutiny and decisions of the Returning Officer accepting nominations despite objections.

On June 8, a Division Bench directed that the records be supplied to Milany.

Subsequently, the election petition came to be filed on the basis of the records supplied.