Velachery is a new assembly constituency formed after 2008 delimitation and in 2011 AIADMK candidate M. Ashok trounced PMK candidate M. Jayaraman by a margin of 30,000 votes. With about 2.5 lakh voters Velachery is one of the largest constituencies in Chennai.
AIADMK – M.C. Munusamy
The ruling party has fielded its local corporation councillor M. C. Munusamy to retain the seat.
Strengths: A local resident and a popular face among the Neelangarai fishermen. Being a councillor of ward 192 and chairman of corporation zone he can command over the AIADMK strong party unit to make the campaign effective.
Weaknesses: He has been contesting the local body polls since 1996, but won only during the 2011 polls and is a green horn for assembly polls without any ideological background. He lacks the stature to fight the popular actor Vaagai Chandrasekar.
DMK – Chandrasekhar
Veteran actor Vagai Chandrasekar will be contesting from the Velachery constituency as DMK candidate.
Strengths: The national award winner enjoys the warmth of local DMK unit. Chandrasekar who made his acting debut in 1979 is a popular candidate among voters.
Weaknesses: The actor has never won an election and is campaigned as an outsider by the ruling AIADMK.
X – factor: The flood hit Velachery was in headlines during the December floods and the natural calamity will certainly have an impact in the ensuing May 16 polls irrespective of the political scenario.
(Compiled by C.S. Kotteswaran)
