Tamil Nadu - Nagercoil   

A multi-cornered contest in Nagercoil

P.S.Suresh Kumar

AIADMK has allotted this constituency to MDMK

Nagercoil: The AIADMK has allotted Nagercoil Assembly constituency to MDMK after fielding its candidates in the constituencies of Kanyakumari, Colachel, Padmanabhapuram, Thiruvattar, Vilavancode and Killiyur in Kanyakumari district.

Here, the real fight is between the DMK candidate Rajan and the sitting MLA Austin, who was expelled by the AIADMK for his anti-party activities.

As all other sitting MLAs of the party in the district had been given a chance to enter the electoral scene except Austin, he quit the party and is contesting as an independent.

Kanyakumari is a unique district where poll prospects of candidates would be decided by religion and caste.

There was a division between Roman Catholic and Church of South India over the distribution of relief and rehabilitation measures to affected fishermen after tsunami, though they belonged to the Christian community.

Strangely, when there was a wave in favour of the AIADMK when its founder M.G.Ramachandran was undergoing treatment in the United States in 1984, the DMK candidate Ratina Raj defeated his nearest rival Nanjil Vincent of the AIADMK by a margin of 4,000 votes.

Similarly when the AIADMK and its allies recorded a clean sweep in the last Assembly elections (six out of seven constituencies in Kanyakumari district), the sitting MLA of MGR ADMK Austin won the Nagercoil constituency.

However Austin joined the AIADMK when the founder of MGR ADMK, Thirunavukarasar joined BJP.

Now, the Nagercoil constituency is witnessing a multi-cornered contest after Ratina Raj was fielded by the MDMK, Rajan by the DMK, Udaya Kumar by the BJP, Lion Rajan by the DMDK, Madhu Soothana Perumal by the Hindu Maha Sabha, and Vaikunda Mani by the Nationalist Congress Party besides Austin, an independent.

Though Austin has not done anything significantly for the development of the constituency, he is enjoying the support of voters particularly from slum areas.

There are 39 slums in the Nagercoil municipal limit and the people in these areas had decided to support him.

Similarly, over 300 self-help groups in rural areas have decided to cast their votes in favour of the sitting MLA. Because, he used to visit their family functions as one of their family members.

Austin claims that he was instrumental for sending a proposal to execute underground drainage scheme at a cost of Rs. 22 crores and to implement integrated water supply scheme for the residents of Nagercoil municipal limit at a cost of Rs. 33 crore.

The government has given sanction in principle for the implementation of these schemes. "If I am voted to power, I will mount pressure on the government to implement these schemes," said Austin.

In Nagercoil constituency, where there is a good concentration of Nadars, Pillaimars and Saliyar (weavers), S. Austin of MGR AIADMK, as an ally of the DMK, defeated his nearest rival Moses of the TMC by a margin of 3,662 votes in 2001.

Moses had been elected from this constituency thrice, twice as a Congress candidate and once as a TMC candidate.

Just like Austin, Mr. Rajan of the DMK is also well known among the poor and downtrodden.

He used to extend a helping hand to the people whenever they approached him.

He assures the voters that the long-pending demand of the people of Nagercoil for implementation of underground drainage system would be executed if he gets elected.

Steps would be taken to put an end to traffic congestion by setting up a new bus stand near St. Hindu College.

Cadres of the MDMK were dejected when the AIADMK allotted Nagercoil constituency to the MDMK.

They sought Colachel, a stronghold of the party, in vain. With no other option, the MDMK fielded its district secretary Ratina Raj.

He is an ardent admirer of Vaiko.

He also assures implementation of the underground drainage and desilting of the Pazhayar for the benefit of farmers.

The BJP candidate Udaya Kumar will get considerable votes in Nagercoil municipal limits and it may affect the poll prospects of the sitting MLA Austin.

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