The Madras High Court has extended its interim stay on notifying bypolls in five Tamil Nadu Assembly constituencies until September 8, after the Election Commission of India (ECI) told the court that it would not announce the elections until pending election petitions relating to the seats are decided.
One of the constituencies affected by the order is Trichy East, which was won by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay in the 2026 Assembly elections. Vijay won from both Perambur and Trichy East, but retained Perambur and vacated the Trichy East seat, necessitating a bypoll.
He also said that being born and brought up in Kolathur had helped him understand the constituency and its voters. The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government’s side, however, opposed the submission and sought an early hearing of the matter. It also requested that the interim stay be lifted.
Earlier on Monday, DMK president and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin filed an election petition in the Madras High Court challenging the victory of TVK candidate VS Babu from the Kolathur Assembly constituency.
