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All eyes on Madurai

L. SRIKRISHNA
Madurai

Azhagiri banks on human and material resources, Mohan taps the goodwill he enjoys

Madurai has drawn national attention in this Lok Sabha election with M.K. Azhagiri, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s Madurai strongman, taking on two-time Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP, P. Mohan, who is fighting the poll battle from a hospital bed.

A total of 12 candidates, including that of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) and nine Independents, are in the fray.

After delimitation, the Lok Sabha constituency has only one rural Assembly segment — Melur — the rest (Madurai West, Madurai East, Madurai North, Madurai South and Madurai Central) are predominantly urban.

The Madurai East Assembly segment has the highest voter strength of 1.88 lakh, while Madurai South is the smallest, with 1.48 lakh voters.

In 2004, Mr. Mohan defeated his nearest rival, A.K. Bose of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, by 1.32 lakh votes.

Mr. Mohan says he was instrumental in setting up a Regional Passport Office in Madurai. He has spent a major portion of the MP’s local area development fund on construction of buildings for rural schools. He was responsible for the expansion of the Madurai airport. A hi-tech hospital, similar to the AIIMS, at an estimated cost of more than Rs. 100 crore, is a significant achievement, he says.

Mr. Azhagiri, who is fighting his first election, has been touring the southern districts after being nominated the DMK’s south zone organising secretary recently.

Observers say one advantage for Mr. Azhagiri, fresh from a win in the Assembly by-election in Tirumangalam, is that he began his campaign earlier than his rivals. He has been campaigning from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., promising to take care of basic needs and improve the standard of living. Development is a major issue here. Madurai, the hub of south Tamil Nadu, has been waiting for big ticket investment for long. Underutilisation of infrastructure and human resources and delay in implementing promises, such as creation of IT parks, are big issues.

The hospitalisation of Mr. Mohan and allegations of distribution of money to voters by ruling party workers have sparked much discussion. While Mr. Mohan’s health has caused concern among the cadre, the huge turnout for the CPI(M) party general secretary Prakash Karat at a public meeting addressed by him has brought some cheer. Some observers feel that there is a great deal of sympathy for the ailing CPI(M) contestant.

The DMDK candidate K. Kaviarasan is banking on his party leader Vijayakant’s popularity.

The first phase of electioneering was marred by charges of violations of the model code of conduct by the DMK and the burning down of temporary election offices. While Mr. Azhagiri is banking on human and material resources, Mr. Mohan is trying to cash in on the goodwill he has built up over the years.

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