Madras High Court Investigates Allegations of Child Use in Tamil Nadu Election Campaign The Madras High Court on Thursday directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to respond to a public interest litigation (PIL) petition alleging that the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party, led by incumbent Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, used children to solicit votes during the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. The petition, filed by advocate Vasuki, accused TVK of employing minors as tools for electoral propaganda, with specific references to a public meeting held at YMCA Grounds in Chennai on April 21. During the event, Vijay allegedly addressed children directly, urging them to influence their parents’ voting preferences, a practice the petitioner claims violated electoral norms. The court bench, comprising Justices GR Swaminathan and V Lakshminarayanan, questioned whether a political party could be disqualified for engaging in corrupt practices, as outlined in Section 123 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The counsel for the petitioner argued that the allegations centered on “vote for money” schemes and the exploitation of children for electoral gains. He cited evidence that Vijay’s party had thanked children in post-election addresses, further fueling concerns about the use of minors in political campaigns. The court emphasized the need for an investigation, instructing the ECI to provide a detailed response on the matter. The PIL also leveled broader accusations against other major parties, including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), alleging cash-for-votes practices in constituencies such as Mylapore, Alangulam, and Thirumangalam.#madras_high_court #election_commission_of_india #tamilaga_vettri_kazhagam #c_joseph_vijay #ymca_grounds
