Krishnagiri: The newly-carved district of Krishnagiri has five Assembly segments in its fold: Hosur, Thally, Kaveripattinam, Krishnagiri and Bargur. Of this, the AIADMK is directly pitted against its archrival, DMK, in Krishnagiri and Bargur. In Krishnagiri, the AIADMK won in 1980, 1984, 1991. The DMK was returned twice — 1971 and 1996.

The AIADMK won the Bargur seat five times (1977, 1980, 1984, 1991 and 2001). Ms. Jayalalithaa had won the seat convincingly in the 1991 elections, but was trounced by the DMK in 1996.

The district will also witness a keen fight between the AIADMK and the PMK in Kaveripattinam. While the DMK was returned from here in 1971 and 1989, the AIADMK won the seat in 1977, 1980, 1984, 1991 and 2001.

Hosur, which has been a traditional bastion of the nationalist parties, witnesses a straight contest between the Congress and the AIADMK, which is contesting here for the first time.

The Congress, the Swatanthra Party and the Janata Dal held sway in this constituency since 1967. The Swatanthra Party won the seat in 1967 and 1971, while the Congress won the seat six times (1977, 1980, 1984, 1989, 1991 and 2001). And the Janata Dal in 1996.

In Thally the CPI is directly pitted against the Janata Dal (Secular). The seat was won by the Congress in 1977, 1980, 1984 and 1991. The CPI was returned in 1996 and the BJP in 2001. Being a border district the linguistic minority in Hosur and Thally would have a say in this Assembly election.

The total number of voters in Krishnagiri district is 10,64,160 including 5,37,178 men and 5,26,952 women voters. The number of electorate in the assembly constituencies are: Hosur - 3,11,435, Thally - 1,80,624, Kaveripattinam - 1,82,393, Krishnagiri - 1,93,230, and Bargur - 1,96,491.

Main issues

Closure of industries, revival of small-scale units and lack of infrastructural growth are the main issues that candidates have to face in the Hosur Assembly constituency. Establishment of more colleges and an IT park have been long pending demands of the voters in this region.

Lack of road facilities and water scarcity is the major poll issue in the Thally constituency. Promotion of infrastructural growth in terms of good roads and connectivity, and starting of new industries to control migration are also persistent demands one hears in this area.

Contamination of fluoride in water sources, revival of the granite and marble industry, large-scale migration of workforce to the neighbouring States in search of employment are the main issues that candidates have to face in the Bargur constituency.

Fortress of national parties

Strange as it may seem, Krishnagiri, or at least parts of it, have remained the fortress of national parties, while other areas have tended to be strongholds of the AIADMK. What happens in the 2006 elections remains to be seen. While Chief Minister Jayalalithaa is all set to campaign in this district now, the DMK chief M. Karunanidhi will visit the region later.

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