Dr RK Nagar constituency voters hope Amma would look after them

CHENNAI: Most of the voters who stood in long queues in front of polling booths in R K Nagar constituency in north Chennai on Saturday nursed one hope – that their constituency would shed the tag of neglect. They hope that once chief minister J Jayalalithaa becomes their elected representative, she would take special care of the constituency.
Their confidence stems from the fact that in the run up to the byelection, held on Saturday, the constituency witnessed a high voltage campaign for a couple of weeks with all the ministers and AIADMK functionaries from across the state meeting each and every voter to seek votes.Voters are thrilled with all the attention they got. They expect it would continue to be so once Jayalalithaa becomes their MLA.
“I have never seen so many red beacon lights in my neighbourhood. All the ministers were here. We hope the government will launch several projects and schemes for us” said N Yuvaraj, a voter at Tondiarpet. “Authorities have always neglected north Chennai and given more attention to south and central Chennai. But now, R K Nagar will no longer be neglected,” he said.
Many people said shortage of water, poor garbage clearance, encroachments and sewage overflow continued to trouble the area. “We are fed up with all this. We hope this would change since the chief minister herself would be representing us,” said another voter in Tondiarpet.
G Gunasekaran, a resident of Korukkupet, said the Chennai Corporation had been constructing a flyover in the area for more than seven years. “They bought an earthmover after the byelection was announced in May to show that they were doing something for the residents. We hope the work will go on after the byelection,” he said.