The Madras High Court, on Thursday, declared “null and void” the poll victory of former chief minister O. Panneerselvam’s son O.P. Ravindranath Kumar, in Theni Lok Sabha constituency in 2019. Kumar has been given 30-days time to appeal against the verdict.
The single-judge bench of Justice S.S. Sundar passed the orders in an election petition filed by P. Milany, a DMK supporter and a voter from Theni constituency.
Challenging the victory of Kumar, Milany contended that the MP concealed details of all his sources of income in his election affidavit. While recording the evidence, Milany informed the court that Kumar put down agriculture and business as his sources of income in the election affidavit, but did not disclose his income from the company in which he was a director. Milany also submitted video evidence showing how the voters were bribed and money was distributed during the election. The petitioner told the court that the video of this incident was being circulated on WhatsApp.
He also submitted evidence of the FIR registered for bribing voters in a complaint filed by another individual in Theni constituency.
The Madras High Court order is a huge setback for the AIADMK MP who has already been expelled from the party by Edappadi K. Palanisami, after his father Panneerselvam’s rebellion against the former’s accession as the party general secretary. Kumar is the lone MP from the AIADMK, who won with a margin of 76,319 votes from Theni, near Madurai in south Tamil Nadu, against Congress party’s E.V.K.S. Elangovan. While the DMK alliance won in 39 out of the 40 constituencies, including Puducherry, it lost in Theni.
Incidentally, Kumar also has plans to contest the next elections in 2024, on an AIADMK ticket. It was also rumoured that he might contest on a BJP ticket if the AIADMK refuses to accept his candidature. Sources close to Panneerselvam’s family say it is an election petition and the ruling will be in his favour when he goes for the appeal.
For Panneerselvam, who is already fighting a battle with Palaniswami, this will be yet another fight to ensure that his son doesn’t lose his MP seat.