Tamil Nadu assembly elections: Hook, jab or knockout? DMK faces challenge from AIADMK, TVK & NTK in Central Chennai

CHENNAI: Central Chennai, home to nearly 15 lakh voters, is set to see some heavy bouts. DMK is here to defend its 2021 title that it won by sweeping all the six constituencies where its candidates collectively polled 4.6 lakh votes, their victory margins adding up to 2.1 lakh votes.

But the fight card masks a layered contest: while DMK won some seats through knockouts, some others like Mylapore saw close bouts. DMK’s dominance is apparent but momentum can shift with some well-placed jabs by the opposition. So, it may not be a random decision for AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami to launch the party’s city campaign in Mylapore, in the presence of BJP’s likely candidate Tamilisai Soundararajan on Wednesday.

Central Chennai is also a picture of contrasts. While showcase zones such as Anna Nagar and Thousand Lights reflect visible upgrades, several neighbourhoods continue to grapple with poor civic amenities. This means hyperlocal issues could trump policy achievements.

Constituencies such as Chepauk– Triplicane, Egmore and Thousand Lights have long been DMK’s fort, represented by M Karunanidhi, M K Stalin and now Udhayanidhi Stalin. A sizable minority vote and DMK’s organisational strength helped the party hold on to this citadel. The one time it fell was in 2011 when the J Jayalalithaa storm swept through the state.

At the same time, constituencies such as Anna Nagar and Mylapore have shown fluctuation, particularly among middle-class and upper-income voters.

“Winning here is as important as winning new territories elsewhere. Any dent here would have an impact in other constituencies,” says political commentator Vamsi Chandran. DMK legislators Udhayanidhi Stalin, Dha Velu, N Ezhilan and M K Mohan, have spent the past five years consolidating their presence through a mix of welfare outreach and civic work including stormwater drains and road relaying and setting up pedestrian plazas.

Voters across sections said govt’s delivery influences their decision. In Anna Nagar and Mylapore, some voters were unhappy with the civic quality. In Villivakkam and Egmore, people flagged infrastructure gaps such as drainage issues and connectivity between modes of public transport. In Chepauk and Triplicane, many people from the fishing community complained about their boats being displaced by the Blue Flag beach project.

Seeman’s NTK enjoys pockets of influence along the city coastline.

Sandhya Vedullapalli, a resident of Anna Nagar, says the biggest problem in her neighbourhood is poor maintenance of power cables and junction boxes that pose a threat to life. “They started drain work here just before the model code of conduct came into effect. What was once a planned, peaceful, and walkable neighbourhoodis now perceived as a congested and neglected place,” she said.

In Villivakkam, residents highlighted connectivity, traffic congestion, and lack of recreation space. “We want the Otteri Nullah flooding to be addressed. Bus connectivity should be improved,” said P Rajarethinam, Villivakkam.

Thousand Lights has got an aesthetic uplift, especially with the Pedestrian Plaza at Khader Nawaz Khan Road and the Super Tree at Kalaignar Centenary Park. But interior roads in Choolaimedu, Teynampet are in bad shape.

Jeyapore Colony Residents Association president Sivakaminathan says indiscriminate parking of vehicles and cluttered spaces are the common pain points in Central Chennai. “There seems to be no solution to traffic congestion on Anna Salai, Cathedral Road and Kodambakkam High Road, poor parking management and pavement encroachment,” he says.

The opposition parties, however, have to work to cash in on the complaints. DMK cadres have been quietly but steadily telling voters all that the govt has done for them. DMK also has several strong leaders in Central Chennai who are accessible to their constituents. AIADMK is yet to begin its campaign and its presence on the ground is yet to gain momentum.

The entry of Vijay remains the ‘X’ factor in the core city, where young and first-time voters are in large numbers. A cross section of young voters TOI spoke to spoke about “finding an alternative”, but were not forthcoming on their choice. And if Vijay decides to contest from Perambur, it could energise TVK cadres in the city. TVK is likely to field its key functionaries in the city to take on the DMK in its bastion.