The Tiruvarur Assembly constituency, a bastion of the Left for many years which the former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi turned his very own in the past two elections, is witnessing a fierce three-cornered contest with the AIADMK and the AMMK mounting a spirited challenge to the DMK.
In the absence of ‘Kalaignar’, whose death has caused the vacancy, the DMK may not have it easy this time despite the Communists backing it up.
Since 1967, the constituency had remained either with the Marxists or with DMK irrespective of whether these parties entered the fray as foes or as friends.
While the DMK captured this seat with the Marxists challenging it in 1971 and 1977, it lost it to the Marxists in 1980.
Foes-turned-friends
With the AIADMK making its presence felt throughout the State at that time, the foes-turned-friends in the next three elections (1984, 1989 and 1991) where the DMK played second fiddle to the Marxists to ensure that there was no chance for the emergence of a new set of vote bank in this Assembly segment.
In 2006 elections, the AIADMK polled 49,968 votes and 58,765 in 2011 Assembly elections. In 2016, the party polled 53,107 votes.
The AMMK is relying on the perceived support from the disillusioned grassroots cadre of the AIADMK.
The rescinding of Tiruvarur bypoll in January in view of the cyclone Gaja relief work seemed to have brought some relief to both the Dravidian parties as they were apparently not very keen for the battle as the AMMK was expected to queer the pitch.
Post-Gaja, the AIADMK is claiming credit for saving lives by putting in place adequate preventive measures and restoration of electricity supply, while the Opposition is critical of the relief measures in the cyclone affected areas.
Heritage development
Apart from the agrarian distress leading to youth migrating to towns such as Tiruppur in search of jobs, persisting development issues such as demands for a ring road, widening of major roads connecting the district headquarters with other major towns, development of the town as a heritage tourism centre, augmentation of basic infrastructure and public transport facilities are some of the prominent issues in the constituency.
“Lack of ring road is a felt need by the road users particularly during the annual Aazhi Ther festival when devotees throng in large numbers. Diversion of vehicles into the parallel streets of the four Mada Streets result in chaos throughout the day,” says Thiyagu of Kamatchi Amman Kovil Street.
Hydrocarbon exploration and rehabilitation of farmers affected by cyclone Gaja exercise the minds of farmers here too.