CHENNAI: Lack of development, slow pace of metro rail, congested roads and choked sewerage are issues in Egmore constituency.
The constituency, considered a DMK bastion, is now witnessing a direct fight between AIADMK’s Parithi Ilamvazuthi and DMKs Ravichandran Old timers in the constituency feel that both DMK and AIADMK have neglected civic infrastructure in the locality. “Egmore being one of the oldest constituencies is blessed with adequate hospitals and schools.
The only major issue is inadequate civic amenities. Sewer overflow, roads congested due to haphazard parking of vehicles are the main issues and candidates are not aware of micro-level issues related to the constituency”, rued civic activist A. Sreenivasan. “But going by popularity and his goodwill, Parithi may consolidate votes in slum pockets,” he said.
Interestingly, both Parithi and Ravichandran are suffering dissent in the party. A section of DMK workers and old timers are in fact throwing their weight behind Parithi, a five-time MLA.
The DMK candidate is new to the constituency and his campaign at Thattankulam and Pulianthope on Tuesday was cancelled as local functionaries failed to obtain necessary permission. If this is the state of affairs, how can we work for the party, asked a DMK old timer stating that the party had failed to field a heavy weight in Egmore.
Influx of unchecked population from north Indian States has crippled infrastructure of Egmore with illegal buildings and sewer connections. No politician talks about the issue fearing reduction of vote bank and I might consider either NoTa or vote for Naam Thamizhar Katchi, said advocate A. Prabhakar.
When DC witnessed the campaign trail of candidates, Parithi Ilamvazuthi was often seen tired finding it difficult to beat the heat due to ageing, whereas Ravichandran was skipping interior roads without campaigning following the route map given by party functionaries exposing the tag of being an outsider who recently shifted his residence to Egmore from R. K. Nagar in north Chennai.
