Madras HC upholds cancellation of LS poll in Vellore seat by EC

A bench of justices S Manikumar and Subramonium Prasad dismissed petitions filed by AIADMK-led alliance candidate in the constituency A C Shanmugham and an independent against the cancelling of the election which was slated for Thursday.

The Election Commission on Tuesday cancelled the poll in Vellore constituency over allegations of excess use of money power.

The EC, which has the power to issue notification for conducting elections, also has the power to recommend for cancellation if it has arrived at the view that it is necessary to halt the election, the bench said.

President Ram Nath Kovind had rescinded the notification to hold election to the seat based on an EC recommendation after "black money" to the tune of Rs 11 crore, allegedly linked to DMK candidate Kathir Anand, was seized by the Income Tax Department on the night of March 29-30.