Petition in SC seeks cancellation of Tamil Nadu Assembly polls alleging rampant vote-buying

NEW DELHI: A petition has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking cancellation of the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, alleging large-scale voter bribery through cash, gifts, liquor and other inducements by major political parties and accusing the Election Commission of India (ECI) of failing to ensure free and fair polls.

The writ petition, filed by Tamil Nadu resident K.K. Ramesh, seeks a direction to the Election Commission of India and the Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer to cancel the 2026 Assembly election in the state on the ground that the electoral process has been “vitiated” by rampant vote-buying.

In the plea, the petitioner alleged that major political parties, including the DMK, BJP, AIADMK, TVK, and the Congress, were indulging in bribing voters through distribution of cash and freebies such as laptops, colour televisions, grinders, mixers, fans, goats and cows.

Claiming that the ECI had failed to curb such practices despite being aware of the situation, the petition stated: “Bribery in elections destroys the very basis of a democracy. It is necessary to protect the purity and sanctity of the polls, which can be ensured only by taking stringent action against those indulging in such bribing activities.”