Chidambaram snubbed by Madras HC in plea against AIADMK man

Chennai, Aug 4: The Madras High Court rejected Home Minister P Chidambaram's plea against a petition filed by AIADMK candidate Raja kannappan. The AIADMK candidate had earlier challenged Chidambaram's victory in 2009.

Chidambaram was seeking the dismissal of the election petition filed by his then AIADMK rival R S Raja Kannappan in the Lok Sabha elections in 2009. Both groups were contesting from the Sivaganga constituency in 2009 General Elections.

Justice K Venkatraman speaking on the quashing of the plea said, "There cannot be any doubt that an Election petition filed with defects which cannot be curable cannot be considered as an election petition at the end. However, in the case on hand, the defects pointed out by the officer concerned are not defects which are not curable warranting dismissal of the election petition."

Kannappan had earlier filed a petition on Jun 25, 2009 alleging that Chidambaram had won the elections after 'manipulation' of votes and 'corrupt practices' and that his victory should be declared null and void. He had also sought a recount of votes of the constituency.

Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa had also raised the issue on her maiden visit to Delhi after her spectacular win in the elections. She had openly stated that Chidamabaram was elected in by fraud and had declared that he ought to resign.

OneIndia News