A petition has been filed before the Supreme Court of India seeking cancellation of the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026.
The plea alleges extensive voter inducement through cash, gifts, and other incentives, raising concerns about electoral integrity.
Filed by Tamil Nadu resident KK Ramesh, the writ petition urges the Election Commission of India and the state’s Chief Electoral Officer to annul the polls. It claims that the electoral process stands ‘vitiated’ due to systematic bribery practices.
The petitioner accused major political parties, including Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Bharatiya Janata Party, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Indian National Congress, and TVK, of distributing cash and goods such as electronic appliances, livestock, and household items to influence voters.
The plea contends that Tamil Nadu remains an ‘expenditure-sensitive State’, citing repeated large-scale seizures during elections. It highlighted that authorities confiscated assets worth over Rs 1,324 crore during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and nearly Rs 1,000 crore in the 2021 Assembly elections.
The petitioner further alleged that voters in several constituencies received between Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 per vote. He claimed that political actors employed sophisticated methods to ensure acceptance of such inducements.
The petition criticised the Election Commission for failing to curb these practices despite awareness. It emphasised that bribery undermines democratic principles and distorts genuine representation.
The plea also referenced the 2013 Subramanian Balaji judgment, which held that certain welfare distributions do not constitute corrupt practices under the Representation of the People Act.
The petitioner has sought judicial intervention to cancel the elections and restore the sanctity of the democratic process.
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