Chennai: Despite the flood impact in December, the strength of arch rival AIADMK and the good base for other parties like the DMDK are a major cause of concern for the DMK in the 10 constituencies of Tiruvallur district.
The district is an industrial hub with the presence of workers, besides fishermen and traders. It has a large population of Dalits, but their votes could be divided between the AIADMK, DMK, DMDK and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Kathi. Despite the strong presence of Vanniyars, the PMK had passed 10 per cent votes in Tiruttani alone when it went on its own in 1996 Assembly elections.
Tiruvallur district also has a large number of farmers whose main complaint is the disappearing water bodies and indiscriminate sand quarrying in Kosasthalai river and the lakes. Being nearer to Chennai, the district faces the hazards of transition from an agrarian to industrial economy and environmental problem, besides the rising need for infrastructure development hogging the focus of residents.
The AIADMK alliance won all the 10 seats in Tiruvallur district in the previous Assembly elections and retained its hold over the district even when it went alone in the 2014 Parliament elections. In the 10 Assembly segments of the district, the AIADMK polled above or around 50 per cent votes in seven Assembly segments in the last Lok Sabha polls.
The strong presence of other parties increases the possibility of a split in the opposition votes, which could also hit the DMK’s prospects. In the district bordering Andhra Pradesh, actor Vijayakanth’s DMDK enjoys good
support. When he contested alone in the 2009 Parliament polls, his party had secured over or around ten per cent votes in all the ten Assembly segments.
Besides, Vaiko’s MDMK has a good presence in Avadi and Poonamalee constituencies, while PMK has the potential to do well in Tiruttani.
A split of anti-AIADMK votes in three or four fronts could leave the DMK missing the winning post in most of the seats in the district. DMK functionaries in the district are pinning their hopes on Maduravoyal and Ambattur constituencies, which are urban seats nearer to capital Chennai. Besides, they feel that the support of minorities and Dalit outfits could make a difference in the rural areas.
