Fluctuating electoral fortunes

By S. Shanker

CHENNAI, MAY 6. If there is a constituency in Chennai that has always played see-saw with the electoral fortunes of leading political players, it is Radhakrishnan Nagar.

The Congress, which romped home here in 1957 and 1962, had to yield to the DMK, for the first time, in 1967. The DMK repeated its performance in 1971. The launch of the ADMK humbled it in 1977. However, in 1980 and 1984, the electorate favoured the Congress. R.K. Nagar returned to the DMK's fold in 1989.

In the near total eclipse of the DMK in 1991, the AIADMK bagged the seat only to concede it in 1996 to the DMK.

This time, both the main contestants - the Social Welfare Minister, Ms. S. P. Sargunapandian (DMK), seeking re-election, and the AIADMK candidate, Mr. P. K. Sekar Babu are sweating it out and the outcome hinges on a variety of factors.

The ruling party is weighed down by its unpopularity in certain pockets of the constituency. The sitting DMK MLA was brushed off by slum dwellers in Ambedkar Nagar, J.J. Nagar and Indira Gandhi Nagar.

The residents apparently sore with the lack of civic amenities had openly questioned the MLA's indifference to their needs and denied her access for `door-to-door' campaigning.

However, the DMK appears to have earned the goodwill of the business community, which constitutes about 30 per cent of the electorate of 2,72,370.

There are also reports of the trading community's inclination to support the DMK as it had not resorted to any `major extortion' from them in the last five years. Analysts say this could help the DMK tide over any possible erosion of votes in the slum tenements.

Ms. Sargunapandian is not too worried about the opposition posed by some of the slums. ``Residents of Indira Gandhi Nagar and Ambedkar Nagar tend to forget that the land belongs to Port Trust and Railways. How can pattas be issued and infrastructure developed when the property is not vested with the Government,'' she asks.

Conceding that over a third of the constituency lacked proper infrastructure, she questions as to what the AIADMK had done to improve the area during its regime. Development cannot take place overnight and it can only be done in phases, she reasons.

The DMK campaign managers, besides speaking of the performance of the government, point to the Slum Clearance Board tenements built in Navalar Nagar and Thilagar Nagar and the Rs. 25 crore Metrowater station at Patel Nagar all during the party's term. Over Rs. 2.30 crores worth fire proof roofing sheets had been provided for slums in R.K.Nagar and the process for setting up a permanent fire station at Sathya Nagar is on.

Mr. Sekar Babu is attempting to cash in on the hostile reception accorded to the ruling party candidate with high voltage campaigning. Assuring residents of a 24-hour complaint cell if voted to power, he says the AIADMK had blacktopped private roads and commissioned power and pumping stations in R.K. Nagar. Despite Mr. Babu's maiden attempt in the corporation elections ending in a fiasco, he appears to be gaining ground with the support of his mentor and former MLA, Mr. E. Madhusudhanan.

The alliance partners of the secular front are found working in tandem, which could turn the tide in favour of their candidate. Some muslims in Nethaji Nagar are vocal in their support for Mr. Sekar Babu.

Mr. N. Manogaran (MDMK), Mr. R. Yovel Selvaraj (NCP), Mr. G. Harikrishnan (Samajwadi Party) and four independents are also in the race.

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Section  : State Elections
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