Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi   

Close tussle between DMK and DMDK in Tiruverumbur

TIRUCHI: Tiruverumbur constituency in Tiruchi district, the only segment with highest concentration of major industries in the entire Central region, is witnessing a keen tussle between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam.

K.N.Sekaran, sitting MLA, who won the previous two elections consecutively, is contesting again against S.Senthilkumar of DMDK, who is banking on youth energy.

In the 10 elections to the Assembly since 1967, the DMK won in this constituency five times and the AIADMK thrice. The Congress and the CPI (M) won from here in 1967 and 1989 respectively. Mr. Sekaran won from this constituency with victory margins of 10,373 and 24,672 votes in the 2001 and 2006 elections.

Mr.Sekaran could count among achievements in his last term his success in getting the status of Tiruverumbur raised to that of a taluk; the start of a unit-office of the Regional Transport Office; and the fructification of the Tiruchi IT Park at Navalpattu.

This time, however, a cakewalk appears impossible as odds are against him. Mr.Sekaran has to contend with people's disenchantment over power shortage that has substantially affected the output of the over 300 vendors of BHEL; the indiscriminate power cuts that has angered the public; and price rise due to which the working class has been grossly affected.

Moreover, the ruling dispensation has antagonised the public since the Tiruchi-Thanjavur National Highway with highly populated residential localities on either sides of the 14.5 km stretch between Palpannai and Thuvakkudi has been four-laned without service lanes. The accident-prone stretch has been witnessing frequent deaths, and despite the plethora of public protests demanding service lanes, the ruling party could not assure anything substantial.

Resident welfare associations under the aegis of Federation for Retrieval of Tiruchi Palpannai-Thuvakkudi Service Roads also gave a call for poll boycott over the issue, but subsequently withdrew it after both the candidates assured that their demand will be taken up in right earnest in the next term. The AIADMK, of which the DMDK is a constituent, had already promised to get the service lanes laid.

This constituency accounts for a huge number of voters from working and salaried class. All major industries in the district: Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, followed by the Golden Rock Railway Workshop, Ordnance Factory and Heavy Alloy Penetrator Project are located in the district.

This constituency adjoining the city consists of eight wards in the corporation limits; Tiruverumbur and Koothaipar town panchayats, Thuvakudi municipality and Tiruverumbur panchayat union encompassing 24 panchayats.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Centre urged to pass Lokpal Bill
Over 600 candidates appear for IIT-JEE
Sporting femininity on her sleeve
DMK in stiff contest to retain Tiruchi East seat
Close tussle between DMK and DMDK in Tiruverumbur
Over 600 poll violation cases registered
Rs.4 lakh, 2 kg silver articles seized
Tiruchi Today

Copyright © 2011, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu