It is a direct contest between the ruling AIADMK and the main opposition DMK at Kancheepuram, an ancient town famous for its fine temples and silk sarees.
Maragatham Kumaravel, the sitting MP representing the AIADMK, defeated DMK’s Vedal G. Selvam, in 2014, by a margin of 1.46 lakh votes in the Kancheepuram Lok Sabha (reserved) constituency. Interestingly, in 2019, they are pitted against each other again.
In between, the DMK won five of the Assembly segments, which comprise the Lok Sabha constituency, and the party feels the anti-incumbency wave will work in its favour.
Meanwhile, the Thiruporur Assembly constituency is facing a bypoll after the MLA, M. Kothandapani of the AIADMK, was disqualified after he supported rebel leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran.
Non-implementation of a silk park and a 4,000 megawatt ultra mega power project in Cheyyur, the failure to desilt major lakes, lack of underground drainage and drinking water supply facilities in urban areas and the non-availability of full-fledged medical facilities are key issues facing the electorate here.
Tourist attractions
Apart from Kancheepuram, it has other historical towns — like Mamallapuram, Uthiramerur and Maduranthakam, that are major tourist attractions — huge tracts of agricultural fields and lakes.
J.S. Selvam, an office-bearer of the Silk Weavers Cooperative Federation, said: “Ten years have passed since the Central government announced a silk park. There has been no progress. The welfare of handloom weavers has also been neglected.”
Kancheepuram town is plagued by a host of civic issues.
K. Bethuraj, organiser of the Gandhi Makkal Iyakkam, said the rulers had failed to provide underground drainage facilities and water supply to extended areas.
Lacking in facilities
“We are facing problems every day and the traffic is also bad. There is no long-term plan to create facilities to meet the needs of the town, despite rapid industrialisation in the district over the past two decades.”
D. Chozhan, a Siddha doctor and social worker in Uthiramerur, said, “The MP has not made frequent visits to redress the grievances. The large lake of Uthiramerur was not desilted despite her promise to augment water supply to 200 villages.” A large number of farmers and agricultural labourers are solely dependant on the water from the lakes in the constituency, he added.
“The present MP adopted a village called Orathi, but has not brought about any improvement.
Cheyyur and Maduranthakam have potential to attract investments, but they remain neglected. Even after a decade, the proposed ultra mega-power project is yet to take off,” said M. Srikanth, a social activist from Melmaruvathur.
Shrugging off criticism, Ms. Kumaravel said, “I have implemented many schemes the people wanted and a few more are pending. The BJP-led alliance will win the elections and we will be able to get projects our way.”
Rising prices
Mr. Selvam, the DMK candidate, said, “The price of LPG cylinders, cable TV and essential commodities are too high. So, there is a strong anti-incumbency wave in the constituency.” He promises more express trains to Chennai, healthcare facilities and employment opportunities.
The constituency has over 25% Scheduled Caste population and there are 21 candidates in the fray.
