Theni district, a strong fort of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), has been sending top party leaders, including two Chief Ministers, to the Assembly since its formation in 1996. The district has not allowed other parties to take roots. The AIADMK won all the seats in the district in five elections out of eight between 1977 and 2006.
In the recent years, the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) strengthened its base in Cumbum, especially in the last two elections. But its district secretary N. Ramakrishnan has shifted loyalty to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). In the 2011-election, the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) and CPI(M) are seeking to strengthen their base with the help of AIADMK. The CPI-M makes its debut in Periyakulam by fielding A. Lazer.
With Theni vanishing from the election map after delimitation, the AIADMK's prospective constituencies have shrunk to four. It has shattered former Chief Minister O. Pannerselvam's hopes of a hat-trick in Periyakulam, his hometown, as it is now a reserve constituency. The AIADMK has won in Periyakulam six times since 1977.
Now Mr. Paneerselvam has moved to Bodinaickanur where his DMK rival and sitting MLA S. Lakshmanan is pitted against him. DMK's district secretary L. Mookaiah had to move away from Periyakulam to Andipatti, another AIADMK stronghold. Thanga Thamizhselvan is his rival in Andipatti, which is held by the AIADMK since 1977.
The AIADMK has, for the first time, shared half the seats in Theni district with its allies. The party has always retained Andipatti, now held by Jayalalithaa, and Bodinaickanur. Ms. Jayalalithaa won from Bodinaickanur as a candidate of AIADMK (J) in 1989. The DMDK that garnered sizable votes in the previous election has fielded its candidate Murugesan in Cumbum against sitting MLA N. Ramakrishnan.
Mullaperiyar issue
As usual, the Mullaperiyar dam dispute has figured in the manifesto of all political parties and independents contesting from Cumbum and other constituencies. With water and power crises paralysing agriculture activities, Kerala's decision to construct a new dam and absence of concrete steps to get the water level raised in the existing dam from Tamil Nadu have dampened the spirits of farmers in Theni and four southern districts.
Mango processing centre in Periyakulam remains a dream, and electronic auction centre in Bodinaickanur a non-starter. Haphazard completion of 18th and 58th channels has not satisfied farmers' expectations.
But sanction of a grape research station in Cumbum and creation of cold storage facility-cum-banana ripening chamber in Chinnamanur are some welcome gestures offered to an infrastructure-hungry agrarian district. It needs more bulk milk procurement centres, global marketing network for cardamom, cold storage facilities, agro-processing industries and marketing facility for silk cotton, cashew, banana, jaggery, mango and vegetables. Several villages on hills lack basic amenities.
Besides agriculturists' woes, weavers, the second largest community in the district, are also upset. Powerloom Park, a major project announced for Andipatti, has not taken off. Handloom industry is in dire straits. Stable price for yarn and liberal loans for revival of weavers' cooperatives societies are the prime demands here.
Garbage clearance, sanitation, safe disposal of sewage waste and protected drinking water supply are still eluding six municipalities. Underground drainage projects are progressing at a snail's pace in several municipalities. Windmill is a rapidly growing industry in the district.
The total electorate in the four Assembly constituencies in the district is 8,31,593. It includes 4,14,841 men and 4,16,746 women.
Seventy-four candidates, 23 political candidates and 51 independents — are in the fray.
While Andipatti produced two Chief Ministers, M. G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa, Periykulam also sent O. Paneerselvam. Bodinaickanur gave political recognition to Ms. Jayalalithaa in the 1989-poll. Now, both Ms. Jayalalithaa and Mr. Paneerselvam have switched over to new constituencies.
