Chennai, Aug 4 (IANS) The Madras High Court Thursday dismissed a petition filed by union Home Minister P. Chidambaram to set aside a case challenging his election to the Lok Sabha in 2009 from Sivaganga constituency in Tamil Nadu, a lawyer said.


In a close fight, Chidambaram defeated AIADMK's R.S. Raja Kannappan by 3,354 votes. Kannappan challenged Chidambaram's election in 2009.

Speaking to IANS, G. Saravanakumar, counsel for Kannappan, said: "The judge has said there is prima facie case against Chidambaram's election. We hope the trial in the case would come to an end in three to six months time."

Expecting Chidambaram to appeal against the high court's order, Saravanakumar said a caveat petition would be filed in the Supreme Court so that his client (Kannappan) is notified whenever an appeal is filed.

In his petition, Kannappan said that Chidambaram's election should be set aside on the grounds of manipulation and corrupt practice.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa during her visit to New Delhi in June demanded Chidambaram's resignation, saying he did not really win the 2009 election to the Lok Sabha.

"He has not won the parliamentary election. In fact, he lost the election," the AIADMK leader told a news conference in New Delhi. "He has played a fraud on the nation," she added.