Coimbatore: The political environment has undergone a sea change in Sulur constituency since the last assembly poll. While the segment had favoured the AIADMK and its then ally DMDK in the 2016 and 2011 polls, respectively, this outing won’t be a cakewalk for the ruling party.
While the AIADMK candidate, R Kanagaraj, had won by a margin of 36,631 votes in 2016, in the 2019 bypoll, which was necessitated after his death, the party’s winning margin had dipped to nearly 10,000 votes. Yet, the party has reposed its faith on V P Kandhasamy and given him a second chance to contest from the seat.
And Kandhasamy is pitted against Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi (KMDK)’s Premier Selvam, who enjoys unbridled backing of the DMK and alliance partners. Hence, the segment would witness a close, nail biting contest. The new entrants - the Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) and the Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazhagam (AMMK) - have also fielded their candidates from the constituency, which will see a split in traditional vote banks.
If the shrinking winning margin is any indication, it would be extremely difficult for Kandhasamy to retain the MLA seat. While the voters in the segment, which comprises Sulur, Sulthanpet and Karumathampatti blocks, had put their weight behind the AIADMK and its allies thrice since 2011, they don’t seem to be impressed with the party’s contribution to the segment. There is a general feeling among the electorate that the ruling dispensation hadn’t done much for the constituency’s infrastructure development in the past 10 years. As such, there is a perceptible anti-incumbency factor working against the party.
Vijaykumar, an environmentalist living at Sulur, said while both the AIADMK and KMDK candidates represent the dominant gounder community and have equal pros and cons, Selvam had an edge over Kandhasamy, as he was supported by the DMK and allies. “There is a growing talk and belief that the DMK stands a high chance of winning and forming the government, while people prefer voting the ruling party out of power.”
It doesn’t however, mean Kandhasamy isn’t popular in the segment. A resident of Sulthanpat in the constituency, he is acceptable among the electorate, approachable and attends a lot of local functions. But people are upset with the AIADMK workers in the area.
K Selvam, another resident, said, “There is a growing frustration. AIADMK workers, who are seemingly jobless, are getting richer every year. They take commissions for every small work like approvals, ration card, old age pensions, etc. There is corruption.”
With Sulur still lacking infrastructure, there is also disillusionment with the government. The constituency, which extends from Samalapuram in the east to Kamakshipuram in the west, and from Mayilampatti in the north to Salaipudur in the south, doesn’t have a government hospital with mortuary, and a government polytechnic or arts college.
R Boominathan, a farmer, said, “Even accident victims battling for life have to be rushed to the government hospital, which is 45km away. The government is also yet to come up with a solution for white fly menace.”
The indefinite delay in desilting Sulur tank and widening of 7.5km-long Chinthamanipudur-Kangayampalayam Road has also not gone down well with the electorate.
Political observers say there is already a wave in favour of the DMK. Not because that Selvam has promised the voters much, except wavier of power loom workers’ loans “commission free governance”. Already, presidents of seven village panchayats and the union vice-chairman have moved to the DMK. “Many AIADMK voters have also stepped away after former mayor SM Veluchamy was ignored and isolated, and not working for Kandhasamy,” K Selvam said.