The Madras High Court has refused to reject an election petition filed by former Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi of the DMK challenging the victory of TVK MLA Vijayakumar alias Navalapattu Viji from Thiruverumbur Assembly constituency in the 2026 election.

Justice K. Kumaresh Babu said the Election Commission of India’s instructions to not engage children in election campaigns had a statutory force and, hence, the veracity of the allegation levelled against the MLA of having engaged children for his campaign could be tested only during trial. The judge dismissed an application filed by the MLA to reject the petition.

Mr. Vijayakumar had won the seat by a margin of 8,705 votes. He had secured 89,837 votes as against 81,132 votes garnered by the election petitioner who was his nearest rival candidate.

Published – November 07, 2026 11:50 pm IST