After remaining as Melapalayam Assembly constituency till 1971, it was renamed as Palayamkottai in 1977. Though the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam won Palayamkottai in the first two polls in 1977 and 1980, it lost to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in 1984 and 1989. And voters here continue to back the DMK, barring the 1991 polls when anti-DMK sentiments flared up across the State following the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi.
Since this constituency houses a sizable number of people belonging to minority communities, particularly Muslims, all major political parties have fielded Muslim candidates. The DMK has fielded T.P.M. Mohideen Khan, who is representing Palayamkottai since 2001. He went on to become a Minister in 2006. Barring a few development works, he cannot take any credit for any achievement in the 15 years. Even when he was Minister of Sports, he did not establish a sports village on a sprawling land on the outskirts of Palayamkottai as promised. The multipurpose indoor stadium at VOC stadium is yet to be inaugurated.
Nizam mama’s hope
The Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam– People’s Welfare Front combine has fielded K.M.A. Nizam Mohideen, popularly known as ‘Nizam Mama,’ who believes that his personal contact with voters from all sections of society and Mr. Mohideen Khan’s “failure as a Minister and MLA for 15 years” would ensure his victory.
The ruling AIADMK, which initially fielded Thamizh Magan Hussein, later reposed its faith in S.K.A. Haider Ali, chairman of Tirunelveli Corporation’s Melapalayam Zone, who has nothing to show as his achievement during his tenure. The Social Democratic Party of India, a Muslim organisation, which has fielded a candidate in Palayamkottai segment, is waging a war against Mr. Haider Ali on the social media and the ‘questionnaire’ it circulates through WhatsApp against Mr. Ali elaborates on his “omissions and wrongdoings.”
The 50-year-old Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital, which should have graduated into a multispecialty hospital on the lines of Madras Medical College Hospital by offering super speciality courses and better facilities to patients coming from Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Kanyakumari and Virudhunagar districts, is yet to attain the status owing to official apathy. The only solace is the dedicated drinking water line ensured by Mr. Mohideen Khan and the proposed Regional Cancer Centre on its premises.
Traffic congestion
Traffic congestion is a major issue in this constituency and no MLA or councillor dares to remove illegal constructions that hamper free flow of vehicular traffic even on arterial roads such as Tiruchendur and Thiruvananthapuram highways.
Delay in commencing construction of Kulavanigarpuram rail overbridge poses hardship to the public, especially schoolchildren, as traffic congestion is witnessed whenever the manned level crossing in Tirunelveli– Tiruchendur section is closed. Sometimes ambulances carrying critically ill patients are caught in traffic snarl.
Though this Assembly segment is situated close to the perennial Tamirabharani, residents living in the peripheral areas do not get regular water supply. The pollution of the river is getting worse as the Corporation is yet to start work on the second phase of underground drainage scheme. Venthankulam bus stand needs a complete overhaul. No step has been taken to dedicate a particular area for omni buses. Consequently, it causes traffic snarl in the already cramped Tirunelveli Junction bus stand and its surroundings.
The highly literate voters of Palayamkottai patiently wait for solutions to all these maladies.
