Radhapuram: SC allows recounting of votes, stays result declaration

The Supreme Court on Friday (October 4) partially stayed the order of the Madras high court, which had allowed recounting of all the postal ballots and the votes counted earlier in rounds 19, 20, and 21 at Radhapuram constituency in Tamil Nadu.

While allowing the counting, the apex court stayed the declaration of results and posted the matter for further hearing to October 23.

In the aftermath of this development, MLA and AIADMK leader I S Inbadurai who secured the stay order in the top court sought a stay on the interim directive passed by Justice G Jayachandran, allowing the recount, in the Madras high court as well. That was fiercely contested by Appavu, the DMK candidate who lost the assembly polls by a margin of 49 votes. But the demand was rejected and the recount took place under heavy security.The counting of postal ballots was taken up prior to the counting of EVM votes.

It is to be noted that in the 2016 Assembly election, Inbadurai had secured 69,590 votes while Appavu secured 69,541 votes.

Also read: Madras HC orders recounting of postal votes in Radhapuram constituency