Marketing problem for DMK in Tiruvannamalai district

By P. V. V. Murthi

TIRUVANNAMALAI, APRIL 27. The economic gloom faced by farmers, as evidenced by the fall in paddy and groundnut prices, and the delay in payment by sugar mills to cane growers constitute a major anti- incumbency factor for DMK front candidates in the May 10 Assembly elections in many of the constituencies in Tiruvannamalai district.

A visit to the rural pockets in the Arni, Polur, Kalasapakkam, Tiruvannamalai, Thandrambattu and Chengam constituencies and interaction with the farmers revealed that they were not a happy lot.

A farmer in Pennathur in the Polur constituency said the price of paddy, which was Rs.300 to Rs.320 per bag of 75 kg about five years ago, now fell to Rs.150-Rs.210. Besides, milk producers did not get prompt payment for supplies to the Vellore District Cooperative Milk Producers Union, he said.

An agriculturist in a village in the Kalasapakkam constituency said the increase in the cost of cultivation resulting from the hike in the prices of fertilizers and tractor hiring charges hit the small farmers hard.

A farmer at Tharadapattu in the Thandrambattu constituency said the price of groundnut, which was Rs.670 per bag of 40 kg about a few years ago, came down to Rs.450 now.

In Tiruvannamalai district, `Uzhavar Sandhais' (farmers' markets) do not appear to have benefited the farmers in a big way. Since a majority of them cultivated paddy, sugarcane and groundnut, the markets were of no use to them.

Even those who cultivated vegetables complained that they did not get a remunerative price because of the domination by traders in these markets, especially in Tiruvannamalai. A farmer at Vinayakapuram in the Arni constituency said he could hardly sell the vegetables, for the market in Arni was located close to the existing vegetable market unlike as in Vellore, where it was situated away from the existing one. Many farmers had to return home with unsold vegetables.

The strong anti-Jayalalitha wave which was witnessed in the very same district during the 1996 elections is conspicuous by its absence in the run-up to the 2001 poll. Except a few, voters interviewed by this reporter were not prepared to accept the verdict against the AIADMK general secretary - rejection of her nomination papers, as final.

Added to these is the Vanniyar factor, which is likely to favour the AIADMK's Mr. S. Ramachandran and Mrs. Nalini Manoharan in the community-dominated constituencies of Kalasapakkam and Polur respectively, where the PMK wields considerable influence.

Amidst these anti-incumbency factors, the Tiruvannamalai constituency is an exception, where the sitting MLA and Housing Minister, Mr. K. Pichandi appears to be on a good wicket.

Thanks to his reputation as an easily accessible person and one who responds positively to public representations. He has nurtured his constituency well. His opponent is a PMK light weight, Mr. M. Shanmugasundaram. With a negligible Vanniyar presence in this constituency, Mr. Pichandi does not face much of a fight. Besides, the absence of the AIADMK in the fray would favour him.

But a tough fight is on the cards in Thandrambattu, where the popular sitting TMC MLA, Mr. K. Manivarma is pitted against the influential Tiruvannamalai south district DMK secretary, Mr. E. V. Velu.

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Section  : Southern States
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