Madras High Court Reserves Verdict On Plea To Debar AIADMK 's Edappadi Palaniswami From 2026 Assembly Polls Over Alleged Derogatory Speeches

The Madras High Court, on Monday, reserved orders on a plea seeking a direction to the Election Commission of India to debar the current Leader of Opposition of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, Edappadi K Palaniswami, from campaigning and contesting in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections for violating the Representation of People Act and making statements against the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister during his speeches.The bench of Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan said it will consider the plea and pass orders. The bench, however, questioned the petitioner's locus to maintain the plea, noting that he was not affected by the alleged speeches."You're saying derogatory language has been used against people. Those people are not before us. What can we do? You have to first show how you're affected. You have to show how your legal rights are affected. Some wrong should be done so that there is a cause of action to approach the court," the court remarked orally. The plea was filed by Va Pugazhendi, Chief Secretary of the Puratchi Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, seeking direction to the Chief Election Commissioner to consider his representation. Pugazhendi submitted that Palaniswami, General Secretary of the AIADMK party, while delivering a public speech at Chennai in connection with the general elections, had made derogatory statements against Chief Minister MK Stalin and Deputy Chief Minister Udayanidhi Stalin.Pugazhendi submitted that the speeches were against the Model Code of Conduct and would attract Section 125 of the Representation of People Act (Promoting enmity or hatred between different classes of citizens). Pugazhendi submitted that if Palanisamy was to continue making such speeches, it would lead to public disorder in Tamil Nadu, as DMK (the ruling party) and the AIADMK (opposition party) cadres might clash with each other, causing unrest, disturbing law and order, and potentially leading to riots.Pugazhendi submitted that though he had submitted representations to the Election Commission of India and the Chief Electoral Officer of Tamil Nadu on April 10, no action had been taken till date. Thus, he had approached the court seeking directon to the authorities to consider his representation.When the case came up before the bench on Monday, the court wondered how it could prevent persons from making statements. "Can we stop anyone from speaking? No one can be stopped. How is this petition maintainable by this petitioner when no statement has been made against you? The statement is alleged to have been made against a third party. How are you affected?" the court asked. Though the court was initially inclined to dismiss the petition, it later said that it would consider the plea and pass orders.Case Title: Va Pugazhendi v The Chief Election CommissionerCase No: WP 15449 of 2026

Madras High Court Reserves Verdict On Plea To Debar AIADMK 's Edappadi Palaniswami From 2026 Assembly Polls Over Alleged Derogatory Speeches

Upasana Sajeev

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