Keen tussle on cards in Kanchi between AIADMK, DMK

Chennai: Despite being situated about 72 km from the state headquarters, Kancheepuram, home to scores of temples, has its own cup of woes. The interiors of the Kancheepuram Lok Sabha constituency still wail for more amenities.

And, there is much opposition from farmers in Cheyyur and Uttiramerur, about 90 km from here, to the acquisition of lands for the Chennai airport expansion project. DMK's G. Selvam who had unsuccessfully contested against AIADMK's Magaratham Kumaravel in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, has locked horns with the sitting MP, hoping to win this time riding on the anti incumbency wave. But seeking to turn the tables against the DMK, Maragatham says the DMK had prevented the conduct of local bodies elections in the State by going to court and this had prevented the execution of civic amenities for the people.

Though there are several high profile campaigners including Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and Deputy CM O. Panneerselvam, for Maragatham, who are leaving no stone unturned in ensuring a resounding victory for her, Magaratham's campaign did not run smooth in certain pockets where the villagers, especially women stopped her campaign vehicle and confronted her on her performance.

"There are six Assembly segments in my constituency and despite the DMK's effort to derail development by preventing the conduct of local bodies elections, I, though not a civic body elected representative, have provided streets lights and ensured pucca roads in several places," she said blaming the DMK for the present state of mess.

  The big Uthiramerur lake has not been desilted to augment water supply to 200 villages. Non-implementation of a silk park and a 4,000 megawatt ultra mega power project in Cheyyur apart, lack of a full-fledged medical facility are also among the key issues confronting the voters.

 Nonetheless, there are totally 11 candidates including three women in fray for this April 18 poll from this seat, which has become prestigious for the AIADMK MP who is keen on retaining it. A keen tussle is on the cards between Maragatham and the DMK contender who is desperately trying not to lose for the second time in her hands. Apart from her the two other women candidates are Sivaranjani T. of Naam Tamilar Katchi and Maragadam M. an independent. The BSP has fielded Sekhar D. in this constituency which has seven independents.

 During the 2014 general election, Maragatham Kumaravel, had defeated DMK's Vedal G. Selvam, by a margin of 1.46 lakh votes in this reserved constituency.

 Kancheepuram LS constituency has been formed after the 2008 delimitation exercise and it comprises of Chengalpattu, Thiruporur, Cheyyur, Maduranthakam, Uthiramerur and Kancheepuram Assembly segments. This seat originally existed for the 1951 election. It is reserved for scheduled castes. The LS constituency where women voters (8,24,316) outnumber men (7,94,839) has a total electorate strength of 16,19,318 including 163 third gender voters.

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