The Supreme Court of India has agreed to urgently hear a plea from Sreenivasa Sethupathi, the MLA-elect from Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), challenging a restraining order issued by the Madras High Court. The High Court's order prevents him from participating in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, particularly in a crucial floor test and confidence motion scheduled for May 13. This decision follows a petition from DMK leader KR Periyakaruppan, who lost the Tiruppattur assembly seat by a single vote. He alleged mishandling of a postal ballot intended for his constituency in Sivagangai district, which was mistakenly sent to another constituency with the same name in Tirupattur district.

The Madras High Court issued an interim order to preserve all electoral records, including counting records and videographic footage. The Election Commission of India (ECI) argued that it had no jurisdiction over Periyakaruppan's complaint after the election results were declared, but the High Court maintained that the case warranted judicial intervention due to an administrative failure in handling the postal ballot. The court emphasized the potential impact of Sethupathi's participation in the floor test on the governance of the state, highlighting the constitutional implications of the situation.