Coimbatore: AIADMK candidates who are out on the streets canvassing votes are facing opposition not just from their rival candidates but also from voters.
At least in two places, an AIADMK candidate encountered angry residents during his campaign. Met with cold response from the public during the course of their campaigns, AIADMK candidates and sitting MLAs have started blaming their own party run Coimbatore corporation for not providing amenities.
Two MLAs have told TOI that despite several representations to the civic body, demands like regular water supply and good roads were not provided to their localities. These areas continue to struggle with water shortage and poor roads.
"I did my best to address the water woes of the constituency and got the state government to approve a drinking water project. But the distribution, for which the civic body is responsible, did not take off,'' said an MLA who requested anonymity. Because of the civic body's apathy, the water shortage has only been aggravated in his constituency, he added.
The MLA said that the civic body did little to remove encroachments. What's more alarming is that approvals were given to buildings that were constructed without following guidelines.
Another MLA, representing a constituency with equal number of urban and rural voters, blamed the civic body for the water woes in his segment.
"The civic body has carried out projects worth 150crore in my constituency. There was cooperation from the corporation officials. But the water problem is yet to be addressed by the civic authorities,'' he said. Even in his constituency, several areas are reeling under water shortage.
The ruling party candidates have started feeling the heat of the disappointed public. At Saibaba Kovil locality in Coimbatore South constituency, AIADMK candidate Amman Arjunan, who was also a ward councilor in the corporation had to face the ire of residents.
At Kempatti Colony too, which falls under same constituency, the AIADMK men were met with a cold response for failure to address civic woes."They were not protesting, the residents were out there just to express their long-pending grievances. We explained our efforts to address their problems and they were convinced,'' said Amman Arjunan.