CUDDALORE:
The Chidambaram Assembly constituency is in for a keen contest between G.M. Sridhar Vandayar, leader of the Moovendar Munnetra Kazhagam, who is contesting on the DMK symbol, and K. Balakrishnan of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
The 1,91,399-strong electorate includes 96,560 men and 94,839 women. Being closer to the draining points of the Kollidam and the Vellar in the sea, and, having a wide network of irrigation canals, Chidambaram is vulnerable to floods. The water sources that are considered a boon to agriculture turn out to be a bane during monsoon by washing away standing crops and causing misery to residents.
Therefore, taking permanent flood control measures is the need of the constituency. The government's take-over of the Nataraja temple continues to be the sticking point as about 2,000 dikshithars, traditional custodians of the temple, continue to stake claim to the restoration of their rights. The town also has immense tourism potential as it could boast rare mangroves at Pichavaram, but it is to be fully tapped.
There is a demand for establishing a government women's college and setting up industries to bring jobs. The candidate, who would convince the vast electorate to adequately address these problems, will win their hearts. Mr. Vandayar says that he is backed by political parties such as the DMK, the PMK, the VCK, the Indian Union Muslim League and the Kongunadu Munnetra Kazhagam, which, he believes, would bring him victory. CPI (M) candidate Mr. Balakrishnan, espousing the cause of toiling masses, is all too familiar in the rural areas. He is banking on the support of the cadres of the AIADMK and the DMDK.
However, the dikshithars and the academia of Annamalai University do not seem to be exited over the prospect of supporting the Communist candidate. Such a stand would fetch fringe benefits to BJP candidate V.Kannan, who is also confident of garnering the votes of Pillai community and farmers in the Assembly segment.
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