Supreme Court Dismisses Plea Challenging Election Of DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran In 2024 Lok Sabha Elections

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a petition filed challenging the election of DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran from the Chennai Central constituency in the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul Pancholi dismissed a petition filed by ML Ravi, who approached the Supreme Court against the Madras High Court dismissing his election petition.

According to the petitioner, Maran indulged in corrupt election practices by publishing newspaper advertisements and distributing pamphlets during the 48-hour silent period before the voting date and thereby violated the Model Code of Conduct.

The counsel for the petitioner submitted that the High Court committed a patent error by striking off the triable issue of corrupt practice due to a deficiency of pleadings. Submitting that silent period advertisement is a triable issue, the counsel submitted that the High Court should not have struck off the pleadings and should have instead sent the matter for trial.

At this juncture, CJI Surya Kant, asked the counsel, "How many votes you got in the election?". The counsel replied that regardless of the votes garnered by the petitioner, the issue of corrupt practice should have been adjudicated.

Pointing out that the petitioner got only 696 votes, CJI said, "You must realise that only 696 voters came for your support. Work for the next election, so that more people will support you. Devote time for the next election. Do campaign well in advance, communicate to the people your ideas and plans."

The counsel submitted that publication of advertisements on the front page of newspapers on the election day was a violation of the Model Code of Conduct and a corrupt practice. "Party workers might have done something," CJI said.

In a lighter vein, CJI told the petitioner that he can try giving some "firebrand speeches" to sway the people. "Tamil people are very sentimental, very emotional. So may be if you give some good vision and good hopes, they might join you," CJI said.

The bench said that it did not find any ground to interfere with the High Court's judgment which held that the newspaper advertisements relied upon were published by the DMK party and not by Maran personally, and that none of the advertisements even referred to him. Relying on Election Commission instructions, the High Court had noted that publication of political advertisements by a party was not per se prohibited if pre-certified, and could not automatically be attributed to the candidate.

On allegations relating to stickers, booth agent expenses, and rallies, the High Court found that the petitioner had merely made assumptions and approximations without pleading material facts to show that the expenditure was incurred by or attributable to Maran. The Court also noted that Maran's election expenditure accounts had been submitted to and accepted by the Election Commission, which had not flagged any discrepancy.

Case :M L RAVI Vs DAYANITHI MARAN P | D No. 32470/2025