The Madras High Court today refused to dismiss petition challenging the election of Union Home Minister P.Chidambaram to the Lok Sabha in 2009. Disposing of a plea by Mr.Chidambaram seeking dismissal of the petition filed by AIADMK's Raja Kanappan, who lost by a margin of 3,354 votes, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has asked the Home Minister to face the case.

Justice K.Venkatraman of the Madurai Bench of the High Court ordered removal of two of the 29 charges and asked him to face the remaining 27 charges against him.

Mr.Kannappan in his petition filed on June 25,2009, had alleged that Mr.Chidambaram's election deserved to be declared void due to manipulation of votes and corrupt practices committed with his consent. The petitioner has also sought recount of the votes polled in the entire constituency particularly in the Alangudi Assembly segment.