The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : DMK versus AIADMK in Communist stronghold

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 03, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

DMK versus AIADMK in Communist stronghold

By K. Subramanian

The Communist stronghold, Nagapattinam (Reserved) constituency, will witness a keen contest between A.K.S.Vijayan of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (sitting MP), Nagapattinam district secretary, and lawyer P.J.Arjunan of the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), a new face.

While Mr. Vijayan, son of the Communist leader, A.K.Subbiah, is wooing the electorate with promises including steps to solve the Cauvery issue, Mr. Arjunan is highlighting the achievements of the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa.

The constituency comprises six Assembly segments of Nagapattinam, Vedaranyam, Tiruthuraipoondi, Mannargudi, Nannilam and Tiruvarur. Tiruthuraipoondi, Nannilam and Tiruvarur are reserved Assembly segments.

In the 2001 Assembly polls, the CPI bagged Tiruthuraipoondi and Mannargudi, the DMK captured Vedaranyam and Tiruvarur, the AIADMK and the Tamil Maanila Congress won from Nagapattinam and Nannilam.

The Nagapattinam constituency, a Congress bastion for a decade from 1957 to 1971, subsequently fell to the Communists.

In 1957, Congress candidates K.R.Sambandam and M.Ayyakannu in the twin-member constituency defeated veteran Communist leaders P. Ramamurthy and A.K. Subbiah respectively.

In 1962, R.G.Thenkondar (Congress) won the seat defeating the Communist leader, Manali C.Kandasamy. In 1967, V.Sambasivam (Congress) defeated V.P.Chinthan, another Communist leader.

Since 1971, the seat was won by the CPI six times, including in the 1979 by-poll, twice by the DMK and once by the Congress and the AIADMK.

In 1971, M. Kathamuthu (CPI) won the seat defeating his Congress rival V. Sambasivam. In 1977, S.G.Murugaiyan (CPI) captured the seat defeating Thazhai Karunanidhi (DMK). In the 1979 by-election (caused by the death of S.G.Murugaiyan), K.Murugaiyan (CPI) wrested the seat defeating M.Mahalingam of the AIADMK.

In 1980, Thazhai Karunanidhi (DMK) won the seat defeating K.Murugaiyan (CPI) and in 1984, M.Mahalingam (AIADMK) wrested the seat defeating K.Murugaiyan (CPI).

In 1989, M.Selvarasu (CPI) captured the seat defeating N.S.Veeramurasu (Congress) and in 1991, Padma (Congress) defeated M.Selvarasu (CPI). In the 1996 and 1998 polls, M.Selvarasu (CPI) won the seat defeating Manivannan (Congress) and K.Gopal (AIADMK) respectively.

In 1999, A.K.S.Vijayan (DMK), defeated M.Selvarasu (CPI).

Water shortage, both for irrigation and drinking, is the key issue in this election. The economy of the agriculture-oriented constituency, which is the tail-end of the Cauvery delta, had crippled in the last three years for want of water. Drinking water shortage is a problem in several areas, including Nagapattinam, Vedaranyam and Tiruthuraipoondi .

The constituency is dominated by Dalits followed by Mukkulathor. Lakhs of agricultural workers, small and marginal farmers, who depend on agricultural income, faced problems in the last three years because of non-cultivation of paddy. Unemployment of farm labourers poses a great threat in the constituency, which only has an oil refinery and some small-scale units.

A sizable section of Dalit youths who were hitherto with the Communists, have started supporting the Dalit Panthers of India. The Rajnikant factor is hardly seen.

The constituency has nearly one-fourth of the total area under paddy cultivation. People in rural areas are agitated over the poor link roads, lack of facilities at primary health centres and free flow of illicit arrack in some pockets.

No major caste or communal clash was reported in the last few years.

The total number of electorate is 10,48,224 (men 5,16,842 and women 5,31,382)

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