The Madras High Court is currently hearing a petition seeking to declare the election of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay null and void. The petitioner, S. Dinesh, a voter from the Perambur constituency, alleges that the Chief Minister engaged in the "wilful and deliberate" suppression and misrepresentation of assets in his 2026 election affidavit.
Representing the petitioner, counsel V.R. Shanmuganathan argued that Mr. Vijay falsely claimed ownership of 50 cents of government poromboke land in Vilpatti, Kodaikanal, which he allegedly purchased for ₹30,000 in 1997. The petitioner further alleged discrepancies regarding a commercial property in Padi, Chennai, claiming the Chief Minister sold the building for ₹35 crore in February 2026, despite declaring it as a ₹7 crore asset in his affidavit. Additionally, the petition challenges the description of a Neelangarai bungalow as inherited property, asserting it was acquired through a settlement deed from his father, S.A. Chandrasekhar, in 2005.
In response, Chief Minister Vijay has filed an application to reject the petition, dismissing the allegations as "false, unfounded, baseless and completely misconceived." Through his legal team, led by senior counsel Gopal Sankaranarayanan, the Chief Minister argued that the petition relies on "conjectures and surmises" and fails to demonstrate how the alleged technical discrepancies influenced the election outcome.
Addressing the court, Mr. Vijay stated: "No attempt has been made to show how these imaginary perceived defects have affected the outcome of the election in any manner. The people of the constituency knew they were voting for a well known cinema actor who is also a very good human being and someone who offered them a realistic, honest and promising political alternative." He further maintained that his Form 26 filing was accurate and that the alleged discrepancies regarding land extent and valuation were not substantial in nature, especially given his disclosure of assets worth over ₹600 crore.
Highlighting his victory margin of 53,715 votes in the Perambur constituency, the Chief Minister argued that his election cannot be nullified based on what he termed "flimsy allegations." Justice V. Lakshminarayanan has been hearing arguments on the motion to reject the petition and has adjourned the matter to Wednesday, October 7, 2026, to hear the petitioner's side.
