Chennai: With AIADMK leader J. Jayalalithaa likely to contest from R.K.Nagar, the labour dominated constituency in neglected North Chennai is hoping for a makeover. The constituency, traditionally a AIADMK stronghold, is expected to benefit on the civic front just like Chepauk and Kolathur did after Karunanidhi and Stalin contested from there. “Under Amma’s governance, the entire state has benefited, but Chennai had the privilege of kickstarting Amma canteens, Amma Cement, Amma Water and other populist schemes. If Amma represents R. K. Nagar, it will be a boost to the entire North Chennai and the results will be visible,” former Chennai corporation floor leader Sukumar Babu said emphatically. It is a big bonanza for Chennai, if Amma contests from here, he added.
“We are all enthralled as there are reports that Ms Jayalalithaa is likely to contest from R K Nagar. The day she starts campaigning, R.K.Nagar will certainly improve and we want her to contest only from there in future too” said a housewife in Tondiarpet, Gowri Soundar.“Babus attached to the corporation and Chennai metro water will have sleepless nights, if Amma gets elected as an MLA from Chennai”, admitted an IAS officer who had served the Chennai Corporation adding that Kolathur represented by DMK leader M. K. Stalin is a high pressure zone for civic staff. With numerous complaints being forwarded by party leaders, staff work double time to redress civic grievances.
Similarly, Chepauk constituency always enjoyed better civic governance. “You can hardly see negative media coverage or photographs of battered roads, poor sanitation and faulty streetlights in a VVIP constituency,” the official said adding that usually additional work force and efficient workers were deployed to take care of constituencies represented by VVIPs.
