Did TVK use children to seek votes? Madras High Court seeks ECI response

The Madras High Court on Thursday sought the response of the Election Commission of India on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition alleging that the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party headed by incumbent Chief Minister Vijay used children to seek votes during the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections [Vasuki Vs Election Commission]..A Bench of Justices GR Swaminathan and V Lakshminarayanan orally asked whether a political party could be disqualified for corrupt practices.“The candidate can be disqualified, but can a party be disqualified?” the Court asked.The counsel for the petitioner told the Court that the case concerned “vote for money” allegations and that TVK had effectively used children for getting votes.The counsel also submitted that even during the address after the election results, TVK’s president and current Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had thanked children.The Court said that the matter requires consideration and asked ECI's response.“Matter requires some investigation. Get instructions,” the Court told the ECI counsel..The plea filed by advocate Vasuki also levelled allegations of corrupt practices, including cash-for-votes, against other political parties such as the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)..A counsel appearing in the matter pointed out that allegations of corrupt practices under Section 123 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 are ordinarily raised against a returned candidate through an election petition. He questioned whether a political party could be disqualified under Section 100 of the Act.Section 123 deals with corrupt practices such as bribery and undue influence. Section 100 provides the grounds on which the election of a returned candidate can be declared void..The petitioner alleged that the integrity and purity of the electoral process during the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections was seriously compromised due to allegations of electoral bribery, undue influence on voters and exploitation of minor children for electoral propaganda.The petitioner specifically referred to a public meeting held at YMCA Grounds in Chennai on April 21 where Vijay allegedly called upon children to emotionally influence or pressurise their parents regarding voting preference.According to the plea, the speech was widely circulated through print, electronic, digital and social media platforms, resulting in public concern over the alleged use of children as instruments of electoral influence.The petitioner claimed that several videos and online materials surfaced showing children emotionally pressuring their parents and grandparents over voting choices.As per the petitioner, the Election Commission's directions, including a 2017 communication, had said that political parties and election officials must ensure that children are not involved in any election-related process or activity.The petitioner also referred to Election Commission's communications from 2009, 2013 and 2014, which had taken strong exception to the involvement of children in election-related work, campaigning, carrying campaign material or participating in rallies and meetings.Apart from the allegations concerning TVK, the petitioner raised allegations of cash-for-votes across several constituencies, including Mylapore, Alangulam and Thirumangalam.The petition argued that despite complaints, videos, media reports and other materials being in the public domain, the Election Commission and the Chief Electoral Officer failed to initiate an effective, transparent or meaningful inquiry..In light of the above, the petition sought directions to the Election Commission and the Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer to conduct a time-bound independent inquiry into the allegations of corrupt practices by TVK, DMK and AIADMK during the 2026 Assembly elections.