Namakkal Lok Sabha constituency, which consists of Sankari, Rasipuram, Senthamangalam, Namakkal, Paramathi-Velur and Tiruchengodu Assembly segments, is known for poultry farming, lorry body building and transportation business.
Several industrialists here seek business friendly atmosphere, since some of them have shifted their business following the introduction of tax reforms.
Being the leaders in poultry farming and egg exports in the country, the poultry farmers here feel that they lack support from the Government.
General Secretary of Livestock Agri Farmers’ Trade Association P.V. Senthil, wanted Namakkal declared as disease-free egg export zone. He said that the outbreak of various diseases in the region has affected egg export.
“Poultry business in the region has an annual turnover of ₹ 150 crore now and by declaring the region as disease-free egg zone, the business would improve upto ₹3,000 crore per year,” Mr. Senthil said.
The poultry industry has also been demanding a full- fledged packaging centre and cold storage to improve egg exports.
Lorry transport owners wanted setting up of a welfare board, their long-pending demand, besides one-time toll collection. They hoped that the diesel price would be brought under GST tax soon.
S. Sridhar, a lorry body builder in Namakkal, said that the GST had severely hit their industry. “Due to GST, many had to shut shops and they expect some relief under GST and also incentives/ bank loan to develop their business.”
For commoners, the major demands are construction of an outer ring road to decongest the city and better frequency of trains through Namakkal district.
Soya and corn farmers in the region have been demanding Minimum Selling Price for their produce.
Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi (KMDK) candidate A.K.P. Chinraj, who is also the president of Tamil Nadu Poultry Farmers’ Association, said implementation of GST had affected the industry severely.
Building check dams across the Cauvery river has been one of the major poll promises made by Mr. Chinraj, who will be contesting the poll on ‘Rising Sun’ symbol.
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) candidate P. Kaliappan and Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) candidate P.P. Swaminathan are seen as lesser known faces in the district.
Makkal Needhi Maiyam (MNM) has fielded R. Thangavelu.
In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, P.R. Sundaram of AIADMK won the elections defeating DMK’s S. Gandhiselvan. Being a recently formed constituency, both the Dravidian parties have won once in the constituency during the 2009 and 2014 general elections.
