Ulundurpet: Ulundurpet Assembly constituency in backward Villupuram district has attained a star status thanks to DMDK chief Vijayakanth’s decision to contest from there.
Vijayakanth entering the fray from Ulundurpet has brought the much needed attention on the neglected constituency that lacks even basic facilities from access to clean drinking water to quality medical care. The actor-turned politician, who is also Chief Ministerial candidate of People’s Welfare Alliance, may face the toughest challenge from opponents – AIADMK’s sitting MLA R. Kumaraguru, DMK’s G. R. Vasanthavel and PMK’s K. Balu.
DMDK chief’s decision to shift constituency for every election has become the main point of campaign against him by opponents. After winning from Vriddhachalam seat in his maiden election in 2006, he shifted to Rishivandhiyam in 2011 polls. Non-performance and anti-incumbency are the reasons cited by other candidates for Vijayakanth shifting constituency.
DMDK youth wing secretary and Vijayakanth’s brother-in-law L. K.Sudheesh said Vijayakanth opted for this constituency because of its backwardness and large number of oppressed section of people living without any development. “He wanted to extend his good work to more number of people.”
Dismissing the allegation that Vijayakanth did not visit Rishivandhiyam regularly, he said he had visited the constituency 63 times despite being leader of a political party. “How many times did Jayalalithaa visit her Srirangam constituency? How many times did Karunanidhi visit Tiruvarur”, he asks.
Sudheesh who is leading the campaign in Ulundurpet said that Vijayakanth was able to get Central sanction of Rs 20 crore to construct a high-level bridge across Thenpennai river in Rishivandiyam, a long pending demand of the local. “He also spent his MLA local area development funds on creating infrastructure like cement roads and school buildings.”
But other candidates do not accept this explanation. Balu said people know about Vijayakanth and his performance and non-attendance in the Assembly. “He has not done much for Rishivandhayam”, he said.
“No outsiders have won from this constituency. In 1977 election, Thulukanam, a DMK candidate, defeated AIADMK leader Sathyavani Muthu and Ilayaperumal of Congress. Similar is the case of VCK leader Mohammed Yusuf who lost in 2011 polls. Vijayakanth who is an outsider will also be defeated,” said S. Vaidhiyanathan, Ulundurpet union secretary of DMK. He said his party candidate Vasanthavel, who is a well known local leader, would certainly win the poll as the sitting AIADMK MLA faces stiff anti-incumbency.
Kumaraguru is seeking re-election for the third successive term. (Kumaraguru had represented Thirunavalur constituency in 2006-11 which was then merged with Ulundurpet post-delimitation).
The general mood in the constituency seems to be against the sitting MLA who was not even allowed to enter several villages during his campaign. R. Saravanan, a teashop owner, alleged the legislator had “developed” tremendously. “But the constituency did not see any development in the last decade,” he said.
The prominent town panchayat which is at the intersection of two national highways connecting Salem and Tiruchy with Chennai, witnesses a high number of road accidents but the government taluk hospital does not have trauma care centre to treat victims, said S. Balakumar, a government employee.
Vijayakanth’s camp banks on the combined strength of VCK and his own DMDK to win the elections. Dalits constitute nearly 30 per cent of the population. Vanniyars, the largest community, is being targeted by DMK’s Vasanthavel and PMK’s Balu. Vijayakanth is hoping that a split in Vanniyar votes would help him emerge victorious in the toughest electoral battle faced by him so far.
