The spirited campaign of the civil society against the abolition of the Pudukottai Lok Sabha constituency, which saw a record number of voters opting not to exercise their franchise under Section 49 (O) of the Conduct of Election Rules in the 2009 Lok Sabha election, appears to have dissipated with passage of time.
Over 11,000 voters in Pudukottai and Gandharvakottai Assembly segments opted for 49 (O) then in protest against the abolition of constituency, thanks to the campaign spearheaded by the Pudukottai Lok Sabha Constituency Retrieval Committee, an umbrella organisation of traders, service, consumer, youth organisations and trade unions.
“There is much resentment still as it is a question of our identity. But we are not campaigning this time around as it requires a lot of effort, energy and money. In 2009 people felt strongly on the issue and we conducted the campaign with spirit as even local politicians supported us. But now people feel helpless and not many are willing to continue the fight,” says R. Xavier, former honorary president of the Pudukottai Chamber of Commerce who headed the Pudukottai Lok Sabha Constituency Retrieval Committee. Under the delimitation process carried out ahead of the 2009 election, the six Assembly segments in Pudukottai revenue district were apportioned to four Parliamentary constituencies in as many districts.
The Pudukottai and Gandharvakottai Assembly constituencies were brought under Tiruchi Lok Sabha constituency; Alangudi and Thirumayam under Sivagangai; Aranthangi under Ramanathapuram; and Viralimalai (formerly Kulathur) under Karur Lok Sabha constituency. “Some of us, who cannot reconcile to the abolition of the constituency, may use the NOTA option. But we don’t expect there will be too many, though some voters may opt for it for other individual reasons,” says R. Ramaiah, president, Pudukottai District Consumer Rights Protection Association.
