The High Court of Madras has declared as ‘valid’ AIADMK dissident MLA Vetrivel’s election from Perambur constituency in Chennai during the 2016 Assembly polls.

While delivering the above-said verdict, the Court also tossed out DMK’s losing candidate N.R Dhanapalan’s petition challenging Vetrivel’s victory, Dhanapalan had claimed in his petition that Vetrivel’s victory be declared as ‘null and void’ as he had misused the ruling AIADMK’s power during his election campaign.

The Court observed that it was quashing Dhanapalan’s petition as the claim had not been substantiated by any proof to show that Vetrivel had misused his powers. It ruled that Vetrivel’s victory can’t be declared as ‘null and void’.

It may be recalled that Vetrivel, a known supporter of R.K. Nagar MLA Dinakaran, is one of the 18 MLAs disqualified a few months back by Speaker Dhanapal. The case challenging the disqualification is still pending for disposal by the High Court.