Chennai: He goes around the historical constituency without much fanfare assuring voters that they would be liberated from the evil practice of bribing to get building plan approvals.
With BJP’s national secretary H. Raja deciding to contest from T. Nagar constituency, this popular commercial and residential area in the city, that evolved in 1920, has turned into a high profile constituency.
This is among the urban constituencies on which BJP has pinned high hopes of winning hands down. Known after Sir Pitti Theagaraya Chetty, one of the founders of Justice Party and a prominent corporation councillor, T. Nagar, accounts for the costliest commercial stretch in Chennai besides scores of textile and jewellery shops. On the flip side, it is highly congested and lacks adequate space for parking vehicles. The menace posed by hawkers and roadside eateries, crowded subways and streets make commuting a harrowing experience.
Residents of T. Nagar, West Mambalam, CIT Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Vadapalani and Kodambakkam have been demanding numerous amenities, including multi-level parking facilities and foot over-bridges or subways in at least four places and removal of hawkers and vendors selling eatables in T. Nagar. Apart from a connection between the two flyovers on Usman road, they have been seeking a circular route for buses starting from T. Nagar bus terminus and covering Burkit Road, Pondy Bazaar, G. N. Chetty Road, Usman Road.
While those at Vadapalani want sewerage to be linked to the Nesapakkam pumping station to avoid blockage and over-flowing, residents in CIT Nagar say the fish market should be regulated.
Despite his national stature, Raja does not want to remain complacent. He has undertaken a padayatra in the constituency to establish personal rapport with voters and does not hesitate to undertake door knocks garnering for votes.
“Our biggest advantage, rather our asset is our Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His credibility and performance card would make the people appreciate his good intention to ensure more development. The BJP will strive for the well-being of the people,” says Ravichandran, a senior BJP leader, who had previously contested from this constituency, that forms part of South Chennai Lok Sabha constituency.
“Unlike the previous elections, we have a BJP government at the Centre,” he said and added that successive MLAs who got elected had done precious little to improve the constituency. “There would not be bureaucratic hurdles or red tapism if BJP comes to power. T. Nagar will see overall development,” Raja, who began his campaign after praying at Vembuli Amman temple on South Usman road, assures.
