The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Water main issue in Villivakkam

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 28, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Water main issue in Villivakkam

J. Malarvizhi

Kalan is pitted against Renganathan

CHENNAI: Villivakkam, the largest constituency in the State, has voted for candidates from the DMK-led front in the last two Assembly elections.

This time the AIADMK-led front is hoping to draw on the support of trade unions. Trade union leader G. Kalan is contesting on the AIADMK's two leaves symbol. He is pitted against B. Renganathan of the DMK.

There are more than nine lakh voters in the constituency that includes parts of Chennai Corporation, Ambattur municipality, 17 village panchayats, three selection grade and three third grade municipalities.

The sitting MLA, D. Nepoleon (DMK), is contesting from Mylapore. Mr. Kalan is confident that the AIADMK-led front has got its arithmetic right. "There is support from the trade unions. Our ally, Dalit Panthers of India, has got several pockets of support in Villivakkam," he said.

He estimates that the Naicker community will favour him. He is also hoping to get support of women from self-help groups, construction workers and unorganised labourers.

He hopes to set right problems of bad roads, water stagnation, poor drainage facilities and lack of drinking water. The constituency development fund will be used to repair damaged school buildings and set up community halls, he says.

B. Renganathan of the DMK, who has won from the Purasawalkam constituency, is confident that the people will continue to vote for the party. He says drinking water problem will be given priority. He has promised to bring the Ambattur municipality area under Metrowater. Building a bus terminus, colleges and high schools and improving infrastructure are other priorities. "Roads, water, sewage, streetlights and stormwater drains are the most important infrastructure issues," he said. Cleaning up the Cooum and preventing waterlogging will be paid attention. Ravi Sundaram of the BJP is also in the fray.

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