The Madras High Court has dismissed a writ petition that challenged the election victory of G.V. Markandayan, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the Vilathikulam constituency in Thoothukudi district.
The petition alleged that Markandayan had suppressed details of his property in his election affidavit. A First Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan, refused to grant the petitioner any liberty to pursue further recourse, citing that the statutory period for filing an election petition had expired. The court indicated that imposing heavy costs might be considered if the petitioner persisted in seeking liberty to explore other legal avenues.
The petitioner, identified as P. Vimaladevi, a voter from Vilathikulam, accused the DMK MLA of intentionally omitting to disclose a significant number of immovable properties owned by himself and his wife, M. Rebecca Anita. She contended that this non-disclosure was particularly egregious given Markandayan’s previous experience as a legislator, suggesting an awareness of the legal requirements for affidavit submissions.
The plea argued that the alleged suppression of assets warranted examination under Section 33A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, read with Rule 4A of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, which mandate the provision of full and true particulars in election affidavits. The petitioner referenced a Supreme Court verdict from 2013 concerning similar disclosure requirements.
Background of Legal Proceedings Involving MLA Markandayan
This legal challenge comes amidst other recent court proceedings involving MLA Markandayan. In August 2026, the Madras High Court had dismissed a plea filed by Markandayan challenging his remand in a case registered for alleged derogatory and threatening remarks made against Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay. The court had granted him bail in that case, subject to the condition that he file an affidavit undertaking not to repeat such speeches in the future and report to the investigating officer daily, with exemptions for Assembly sessions.
Previously, in July 2026, Markandayan had approached the Madras High Court seeking to quash his judicial remand order. The arrest was based on a complaint alleging that during a public meeting on July 18, 2026, he had made remarks considered derogatory, abusive, and threatening towards the Chief Minister. The FIR was registered under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) pertaining to criminal intimidation and statements conducive to public mischief.
The Vilathikulam constituency, located in the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu, has a significant electoral history. While historically considered an AIADMK stronghold, the DMK has seen success in recent elections. G.V. Markandayan of the DMK won the seat in the 2021 Assembly elections with 90,348 votes, defeating his AIADMK opponent by a considerable margin. Previous election results indicate a competitive dynamic between the DMK and AIADMK in the constituency over the years. The 2026 Assembly election results show DMK retaining the Vilathikulam seat, with Markandayan G V winning again, albeit with a reduced margin compared to the previous election.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
