Chennai, March 23 -- The Madras High Court has set aside the election of ruling AIADMK candidate A K Bose, who died last year, in a 2016 by-election, holding that there were violation of norms in affixing of then party chief Jayalalithaa's thumb impression on his nomination papers.

The court also came down heavily on the Election Commission observing that it had acted as the AIADMK's mouthpiece and the Returning officer of the constituency too did not follow the election laws and had accepted the nomination, knowing full well it was materially defective.

Justice P Velmurugan gave the verdict on Friday allowing the election petition filed by P Saravanan, the losing DMK candidate in Thiruparankundram constituency.

He had challenged the v...