The Madras High Court dismissed a petition from DMK president and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin requesting a full recount of VVPAT slips in the Kolathur assembly constituency. Stalin, who lost his stronghold seat in the 2026 state elections, had asked the court to order 100 percent VVPAT counting, set aside the victory of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam candidate VS Babu, and declare him the winner due to alleged discrepancies found in 14 electronic voting machines and VVPAT units.
Babu defeated Stalin by a margin of 8,795 votes. In rejecting the petition, the court did not accept Stalin’s argument that the discovered discrepancies were significant enough to warrant a full recount or nullification of the result.