Madras High Court Rejects TN MP Navaskani’s Request to Dismiss O. Panneerselvam’s Election Petition

The Madras High Court has rejected a request made by Tamil Nadu MP Navaskani to dismiss an election petition filed by former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam (OPS). The court decided to allow the case to move forward and asked both sides to prepare for a full hearing.

Navaskani, who is a Member of Parliament from Ramanathapuram, had filed a plea asking the court to throw out OPS’s petition. He argued that the petition had no strong legal reason and should not continue. However, the court disagreed and said that the case had enough merit to go to trial.

O. Panneerselvam filed the petition after the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In his petition, he challenged Navaskani’s win and claimed that there were problems in the way the election was held. He alleged that Navaskani and his supporters influenced voters by using unfair methods.

Navaskani’s legal team tried to stop the case early by filing an application to dismiss it. They told the court that OPS did not give enough valid reasons in his complaint and that the case was a waste of time. But the judge studied the petition carefully and found that there were some serious claims that needed proper investigation.

The court’s decision now allows the case to go to the next stage. Both parties must now present their evidence and witnesses in court. The judge will examine the facts before giving a final decision.

This development is important in Tamil Nadu politics, as both OPS and Navaskani belong to major political parties. OPS is a senior leader of the AIADMK, while Navaskani represents the IUML (Indian Union Muslim League), which is part of the DMK-led alliance.

The court’s refusal to dismiss the petition means the election dispute is still alive. It also shows that the judiciary wants to ensure a fair hearing before closing any case related to elections.

Legal experts say the next hearings will be crucial, and the court will look closely at the evidence from both sides before making a final judgment.