Madras HC Deals Blow To TVK, One-Vote Winner MLA Barred From Assembly Proceedings

New Delhi: There was a big turning point in the politics of Tamil Nadu when the Madras High Court ordered Tamil Nadu Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) MLA R. Srinivas Sethupathi temporarily barred from participating in the assembly proceedings. The court gave this interim order while hearing the petition filed regarding the membership of Sethupathi, who won from Tirupattur seat by just one vote.

This decision has come at a time when preparations are going on for the floor test in the assembly after the formation of the new government in the state. This order of the court has increased the difficulties for Vijay's party TVK at both political and legal levels.

Did a postal ballot turn the tables?

The entire controversy is related to a postal ballot. Former DMK minister K.R. Periakaruppan claimed in the court that a postal ballot from Tirupattur assembly constituency was sent to another district by mistake. It is alleged that the concerned returning officer declared that ballot invalid instead of sending it to the correct constituency. Periakaruppan says that if that vote had been counted correctly, the election result could have changed. It is noteworthy that TVK candidate Srinivas Sethupathi defeated him by just one vote, which made this election one of the most talked about contests in the state.

Are questions raised on the role of the election commission?

During the hearing, Madras High Court also asked many sharp questions to the Election Commission. The court asked why the Commission did not take timely action despite receiving the complaint. It was argued on behalf of the Election Commission that after the declaration of the results, its jurisdiction ends and now the election petition is the only way to get any relief. However, the court did not immediately agree with this argument and said that the matter is not only about technical process but is related to the rights of the voter. The court also sought a detailed report from the commission.

Can the mathematics of the assembly be affected?

The interim order of the High Court may also affect the balance of power in the Assembly. TVK has reached power for the first time and every MLA is considered very important for it. In such a situation, the decision to keep Srinivas Sethupathi away from the proceedings of the House is being considered politically important. The special thing is that this order came at a time when preparations are going on for the trust vote in the state assembly. Political analysts believe that if the matter drags on for a long time, its impact can be seen on both the government's strategy and the opposition's aggression. 

Can this matter take a bigger turn?

Legal experts believe that this matter may become more serious in the coming days. If the court finds sufficient evidence of irregularities in the postal ballot, the election results may also be questioned. On the other hand, TVK is saying that the opposition is trying to reverse the election defeat through the court. Now everyone's eyes are on the next hearing of the High Court, because this decision can affect not only one seat but also the new political direction of Tamil Nadu.