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Tamil Nadu polls: Know your candidates

The PMK has also a good chunk of votes in this constituency.

Chengalpattu constituency, which has a long history dating to British era, serves as the transit town between Chennai and Kancheepuram district. The locality that has elected MLAs from both AIADMK and DMK is now witnessing a fight between the two parries. The third crucial factor is sitting MLA Anagai Murugesan of DMDK. The PMK has also a good chunk of votes in this constituency.

AIADMK - R. Kamalakanna: The ruling AIADMK has fielded its state-level office-bearer R. Kamalakannan.

Strengths: Being a state-level organiser and AIADMK union leader of transport wing, he enjoys cooperation from party workers. The DMK candidate is not a popular heavyweight.

Weaknesses: New to constituency carrying the tag of an outsider. The DMDK in the last Assembly poll allied with AIADMK and in this elections, the party sitting MLA can split votes.

DMK - M. Varalakshmi Madhu Sudhan: The opposition DMK has fielded M. Varalakshmi Madhu Sudhan

Strengths: DMK is pinning hope on the women candidate as the constituency has more women voters and is sensing anti-incumbency due to lack of infrastructure and failure to address growing traffic woes.

Weaknesses: The PMK can play spoilsport for DMK candidate and has been targeting DMK among Vanniyar-dominated pockets.

DMDK - Anagai Murgesan: DMDK has fielded sitting MLA and its district secretary Anagai Murgesan

Strengths: Murugesan is popular among local residents and played a pivotal role in last year flood rescue operations and being a party district secretary, the cadres are thrilled.

Weaknesses: He has to fight two major Dravidian party candidates where they are sitting comfortable with their vote banks.

X-factor: The constituency has been witnessing a spurt in real estate and urbanisation thereby losing agricultural lands. Though blessed with marshland, lakes and bird sanctuaries, drinking water shortage and civic issues due to non upgradation of Chengalpattu municipality is an issue in the elections.

(Compiled by C.S. Kotteswaran)

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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