: With the political battle in the Union Territory heating up towards the last leg of campaigning before the May 16 polls, the Nettapakkam assembly segment (reserved) is set to feature a triangular fight between the AIADMK, Congress and the ruling AINRC.
L. Periyasamy of the AIADMK is pitted against V. Vizeaveny of the Congress and Welfare Minister P. Rajavelu of the AINRC in this constituency which was converted into a reserved segment following delimitation of territorial limits in 2011.
Locals’ ire
Political observers expect an interesting battle with the Congress fielding a fresh face and the AIADMK nominating its sitting MLA who is facing the locals’ ire.
The Nettapakkam constituency has by and large been a Congress bastion in all elections since 1964 except in 1969 and 1980 when the seat was wrested by the DMK and then Janata Party respectively.
In the 2011 Assembly elections, L. Periyasamy of the AIADMK won the seat for the first time after it became a reserved segment.
Former Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam won the seat consecutively from 1985 to 1996. His father Venkata Subba Reddy emerged victorious in 1964 and 1974.
The constituency has a considerable presence of Dalits and political observers feel that the votes would be split between the parties 0 the fray. Welfare Minister P. Rajavelu, who was returned to the Assembly from Embalam, another reserved segment in 2011 elections, has now shifted to Nettapakkam while his nephew U. Lakshmikanthan is the candidate of the AINRC in Embalam.
Mr. Periyasamy said the constituency had seen some development work including blacktopped roads.
Though the list of eligible applicants for issue of house site pattas in the constituency was finalised after scrutiny, the process was deliberately delayed by the government in the run up to the elections. Mr. Rajavelu’s decision to shift from Embalam to Nettapakkam assembly segment showed that the Minister lacked confidence about his victory, he said. Mr. Rajavelu would highlight the achievements and the work done by the AINRC government in the last five years but how far this would translate into votes remains to be seen.
