Can DMK retain Annanagar ?

Chennai, May 1 : In another constituency in the city where more number of educated and upper middle class voters hold the reins at the hustings, sitting MLA of DMK Arcot N Veerasamy and BJP leader Dr H V Hande, and an outsider Ms Vijaya Thayanban of Marumalarchi DMK are in the fray for the May 8 assembly elections.

The constituency has remained a DMK fortress since 1977 except in 1991 when the Congress candidate Dr Chellakumar won. DMK President M Karunanidhi himself had won from this constituency in the 1980 elections. Mr Veerasamy, party treasurer has been representing the constituency in the assembly for the last two terms, and is seeking reelection again in pursuit of a hat-trick with lot of hope that the electorate would recognise his service.

Mr Veerasamy, former AIADMK minister has earned a name for himself by spending from his MLA's constituency development fund for 10 years, for the improvement of the constituency. He says he has solved most of the civic problems of this constituency. He also claims that he was instrumental in getting two bridges, laying underground cables, relaying roads, construction of storm water drains, installing two new electrical sub-stations and 30 new transformers to overcome frequent power failure and upgradation of number of school buildings.

However, Mr Veerasamy who used to campaign hard in the streets is now confined to his house most of the time, due to ill-health. He has directed his partymen to conduct systematic campaigning with the whole hearted support of the alliance partners.

When Mr Veerasamy's attention was drawn to transport problem, inadequate water supply and increased commercialisation at Annanagar area and its surroundings leading to several problems for the local residents, including parking, Mr Veerasamy admitted this and said his priority was to solve them once he is reelected. He also promises to take up repairs and renovations of slum clearance board tenements.

Ms Vijaya Thayanban, the MDMK nominee and the main rival of Mr Veerasamy also exudes confidence saying that the AIADMK-DPI alliance would be a major advantage for her. Dismissing the opponents' claim that she was an outsider, she said this would not be an issue for the voters. Their main concern was who would serve them better.

She added that her main priority was to improve the roads and provide an alternative to the Nungambakkam subway, an unattended bottle neck. Besides this, she would work for the improvement of basic amenities of the entire constituency.

She also claims that for the first time, a woman candidate is contesting in the constituency. She highlighted the achievements of Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa especially the relief and rehabilitation measures following heavy rains and floods during the monsoon season last year.

''The response of the people is very good'', she said.

A local AIADMK functionary told UNI that initially, the electioneering was dull, but now it has picked up well.

BJP candidate Dr H V Hande, a B C Roy awardee, who had lost to DMK President K Karunanidhi with a narrow margin of 699 votes in the 1980 elections, is campaigning by pointing out the bad roads, poor sanitation, water scarcity, poor bus facility and frequent power cuts. ''Mr Veerasamy never raised these issues in the assembly'', he said.

Dr Hande, who is contesting from Annanagar for the second time after 26 years, dismissed the reported remarks that the fight was between the MDMK and the DMK. He claimed that there is an anti-incumbency wave against the DMK candidate and the MDMK candidate was an outsider. Moreover, he is a former AIADMK man and a great loyalist of late MGR. So, a majority of the AIADMK voters will support him, he added.

Dr Hande's campaigning is totally different from that of his rivals. He walks through slums, interacts with people and other residents and flat owners welfare associations, creating an impression that he can use the Government and his proximity to both Mr Karunanidhi and Ms Jayalalithaa to get things done.

Terming the manifesto of the DMK and the AIADMK as mere gimmicks, he says people need only proper food and shelter than any other promise in the Dravidian parties's manifesto.

There are 14 candidates in the fray. Apart from DMK, MDMK and BJP, the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) floated by the actor-turned politician Vijaykanth is another prominant party and its candidate Senthamarai Kannan alias Kannan's campaign after a low key start, is now in full swing after Mr Vijayakanth visited the constituency, a few days ago.

Annanagar constituency is also one of the constituency where the women voters outnumber men.There are 3,47,066 voters, of which 1,17,816 are women.

UNI