The historical Mylapore constituency, located in south Chennai, has traditionally been a stronghold of the ruling AIADMK. In the past 10 elections, AIADMK has won five times, followed by DMK with three wins. National parties Congress and BJP have won once in alliance with Dravidian majors. In 2006, the constituency saw a close fight between two actors AIADMK’s S. Vee Shekhar and DMK’s Napolean when Shekhar won by a margin of 1667 votes.
Karu Nagarajan —BJP
Nagarajan began his political innings with Sarath Kumar’s AISMK party. After partying ways with the actor, he joined BJP recently in the presence of Union minister Pon. Radhakrishnan. The national party which tasted success in 1996 is now again trying to woo the voters.
Strengths: Mylapore with temples and mada streets has considerable Brahmin population that syncs with BJP ideologies.
Weaknesses: He has to overcome the mighty Thiagarajan and cope with the stature of AIADMK nominee.
X – Factor: Mylapore being a calm quiet residential constituency with elite neighborhoods usually records low polling and the winning margin at times is narrow. Local politics with celebrity value are two crucial factors that decide the victory with voters most of the time electing local residents from influential
parties.
Karate R. Thiagarajan – Congress
Thiagarajan is a seasoned politician and has been a former ward councillor aware of local civic issues in south Chennai. He started his political innings with Congress during G.K.Moopanar days and later switched loyalty to AIADMK. He was elevated as Deputy mayor to politically counter the then DMK mayor M. K. Stalin in 1996. He later parted ways with AIADMK and returned to Congress.
Strengths: Good organiser and a crisis manager with his political roots intact. Popular among labour and congested residential areas. Being a party district secretary and with friends in DMK, he has the capacity of getting political arithmetic and vote bank politics correct.
Weaknesses: Faces dissent within the Congress functionaries due to factional feud. He has to overcome the popularity of both AIADMK and its candidate.
R. Nataraj – AIADMK
The ruling AIADMK has fielded retired DGP R. Nataraj to retain its Assembly seat for the third consecutive time. A 1975-batch IPS officer, Nataraj became city police Commissioner in 2003. He has always admired party supremo Jayalalithaa for her quick and bold decisions.
Strengths: Handpicked by Jayalalithaa. The retired bureaucrat maintains a cordial relationship with partymen and is now enjoying support of active ruling party workers. With Congress vote share percent dipping in Tamil Nadu, MGR’s 'two leaves’ symbol will help the former top police officer in consolidating women votes.
Weaknesses: The flood hit constituency faces anti-incumbency in a few pockets and Nataraj has to take on local Congress heavy weight and former Deputy mayor Thiagarajan.
(Compiled by C.S. Kotteswaran)
