The ruling AIADMK has regained the Alandur assembly constituency this year, after two electoral battles in 2006 and 2011.
In 2001, the seat was won by AIADMK’s B. Valarmathi, who, in 2006, lost the seat in an electoral battle to DMK’s T.M. Anbarasan. In 2011, the seat was shared with DMDK by the AIADMK.
M.R. Nareshkumar, AIADMK’s district representative, said it was the people’s reward for the ground-level work carried out by the State government within the constituency. He recalled the Chief Minister, after assuming office, had allocated Rs. 330 crore for Alandur zone.
“With these funds, we were able to provide good roads and other infrastructure facilities across the constituency, ever since the area came under the Chennai Corporation. The 10-hour per day campaign for 22 days focussed on the various aspects of good governance and it clicked,” he said. He added that people wanted someone who would represent their issues with the Union government.
Allaudin, an auto-driver and AIADMK party sympathiser, said that during the campaign, the winning candidate, V.N.P. Venkatraman of AIADMK, had visited every nook and corner of the assembly constituency, getting feedback from the party cadre at the grassroots level.
Voters have pinned their hopes on Mr. Venkatraman, who said he would continue his record of performance.
DMK nominee R.S. Bharathi alleged that money had changed hands this election. He had been performing his duties for the people of Alandur and would continue to do so, he said.
Gnani Sankaran, who fought and lost the battle on an Aam Aadmi ticket, said he was happy about the outcome.
He said his party had fought with bigger outfits and was able to secure 2.8 per cent vote share after 22 days of campaign. “Even for parties like BJP it took 10 years to make inroads in Tamil Nadu,” he said.
Alandur Exnora zonal president, V. Kuppan, said improvement of water supply should be given priority. Litterateur P. Venkataraman of Ullagaram said electricity problems such as frequent power shutdowns and voltage fluctuations should be addressed by the MLA.
