CHENNAI: The election of OP Ravindranath, AIADMK MP from Theni, was nullified by Madras High Court in a significant ruling on Thursday. As Ravindranath was the lone AIADMK MP, the party is now without a member in the Parliament. Ravindranath is the son of O Paneerselvam, former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and head of a rebel AIADMK group.

Ravindranath won the 2019 Lok Sabha elections with a majority of 76,319 votes. Milani, a voter from Theni Lok Sabha constituency, approached the Madras High Court seeking annulment of this result. In Milani's petition, there were allegations that Rabindranath paid money during the elections and misused his power to get votes.

The court rejected the petition filed by Ravindranath seeking to quash the case against him. Meanwhile, Justice SS Sundar, who pronounced the order, stayed the verdict for a month to allow Ravindranath to file an appeal.