- Mohan
- BBC Tamil
A by-election to an assembly constituency has become the focal point of Tamil Nadu politics as a whole. Thirumakan E. Ve Ra, who was a member of the Erode East Legislative Assembly of the Congress party, passed away due to ill health. Thus the Erode East assembly constituency was declared vacant and a by-election was announced.
Ever since the date of the by-elections was announced, the Erode East constituency has been buzzing with excitement. Now the final list of candidates has been announced and the election campaign is going on very intensively. How is the Erode East by-election campaign going like the current focal point of Tamil Nadu politics? What issues are discussed? BBC Tamil conducted a field study to find out.
Senior Congress leader EVKS Ilangovan is contesting on behalf of the DMK-Congress alliance. In the last election, the Tamil State Congress contested on behalf of the AIADMK alliance in this constituency and lost by a margin of 8,900 votes. But this time the AIADMK is directly on the field. Former legislator KS Thennarasu is contesting on behalf of the AIADMK alliance.
The candidate announced by the OPS side withdrew because they wanted to protect the double leaf symbol and the candidate announced by TTV Dhinakaran because the cooker symbol was not available. Anand is contesting on behalf of DMDK and Maneka Navaneethan on behalf of Naam Tamilar Party. A total of 77 candidates are in the fray, including candidates from four major parties and independent candidates.
Ever since the election date was announced, Erode East has started heating up. The ruling DMK-Congress alliance has started campaigning for the alliance even before the candidate is announced. Although the announcement of the candidate by the AIADMK alliance is a little late, they are now campaigning in full swing.
The DMK Election Working Committee was formed under the leadership of Minister KN Nehru. DMK Ministers are camping area wise and carrying out election campaign.
On the AIADMK side, former AIADMK ministers headed by SP Velumani and former minister Sengottaiyan are camping in Erode East and campaigning area wise. Naam Tamilar and Democratic Party, which are facing separate elections, are also carrying out their campaigns. Activists of parties are also masquerading as leaders and collecting votes in unique ways.
Erode EastBlock – Some basicsThe information
Out of 60 wards of Erode Corporation, 33 wards fall under Erode East Assembly Constituency.
The block is also a hub for various textile related industries. Agro-based industries such as turmeric are also significant here.
Erode East Constituency has a total of 2,26,898 voters. Since it is a city-based constituency, the problems and demands of the city are the main influences.
How is the election campaign?
The DMK’s election manifesto is the main campaign tool for both the major alliances that will contest the by-elections.
The DMK, Congress and its allies have been campaigning on new schemes and fulfilled election promises like free bus travel implemented in the last two years of the DMK regime.
At the same time, AIADMK’s election campaign is focused on election promises which the DMK government has not fulfilled. DMK’s election promises such as Rs 1,000 per month for ration card holders and subsidy on gas cylinders are raised a lot in ADMK’s election campaign.
Leader of Opposition Edappadi Palaniswami campaigned while holding DMK’s election manifesto. Speaking at the campaign meeting, he said, “It has been 21 months since DMK came to power. They said they would give 1,000 rupees a month. Even after 21 months, they still haven’t given it.
When Chief Minister Stalin comes to campaign, ask where is 21,000 rupees,” he said. These were also trended by AIADMK members on social media including Twitter.
The campaigns of the DMK alliance are carried out jointly by the main leaders of Congress and DMK in most places. DMK ministers canvassed for the alliance’s candidate EVKS Elangovan.
Alliance party leaders are not seen much in the campaign of AIADMK. AIADMK’s campaign till now has been built around the double leaf symbol and Edappadi Palaniswami. BJP state president Annamalai is said to be campaigning in Erode East constituency next week. Responding to this at a press conference in Coimbatore, BJP leader Annamalai said, “BJP leaders are talking to AIADMK leaders. Soon a public meeting will be held in Erode in which both party leaders will participate.”
Tax hikes including property tax and power tariff hikes that were implemented after the local elections dominated the election campaign. AIADMK has been raising this in their campaign.
Impact of tax hike
S. Bharti
Speaking to BBC Tamil, Secretary of Erode Tax Payers Association Bharti said, “The road and sewerage works are not completed in many places in this constituency. After the announcement of the election, they are carrying out urgent work in many places.
Rain water drainage is a major problem in the municipal area. If it rains too much, water gets stagnant in many places. We saw its effects during heavy rains a few months ago. The tax was raised against the promise of no tax increase.
Property tax has been raised more in Erode than in Chennai and Coimbatore, and garbage tax is also collected more. These should be reduced. The promised new flyover work should start quickly to avoid traffic jams. This is the important expectation of the people of Erode East,” he said.
Impact of electricity tariff hike
People dependent on powerlooms constitute a substantial vote bank. There are 18,000 power looms in Erode East Block alone, says Kandavel of the Power Weavers Association, “There are 5,000 families who depend on power looms alone. 20,000 people are directly dependent on it. In the textile industry, there are not only power looms, but also dyeing, processing, retail business. Textile production has been severely affected by the increase in electricity tariffs.
Power weavers have not paid their electricity bills till now after the increase in electricity rates. The government has accepted the demand of power weavers. But it has also severely affected those involved in other industries of the textile industry. Therefore, the increase in electricity tariff should be reconsidered and reduced,” he said.
Long pending projects
Kingship
The projects and major demands to be fulfilled in the Erode East constituency have been given to the two candidates on behalf of the Federation of All Business Associations. Speaking to BBC Tamil, the president of the association, Rajamanickam said, “There are more than 75 associations in our association. We have presented our demand to the two candidates who are currently contesting the election.
Various aspects of the recent power tariff hike have adversely affected the industry. It should be reconsidered. Erode is a leading producer of turmeric and has proper cold storage facilities. It should be set up. Traders in Kani Market should be allotted shops on priority basis in the newly constructed commercial complex. There are not many textile waste water recycling centers. It should be installed. The project to take treated wastewater to sea has been in name for 15 years. That too should be implemented quickly,” he said.
Leader of Opposition Edappadi Palaniswami is on a three-day campaign trip to Erode East. Tamil State Congress President GK Vasan campaigned for two days. Many prominent leaders including DMK’s Kanimozhi have campaigned. Chief Minister Stalin, BJP president Annamalai and many other prominent leaders are also expected to campaign in the coming days.
The Erode East by-election is being seen as a testing ground for the ruling DMK and its alliance to assess the performance of the 21-month term of governance and local bodies.
At the same time, this by-election is also a testing ground for the AIADMK, which has been facing subsequent election defeats, parties leaving the alliance and internal party problems, to test its strength and the strength of its alliance.
Whatever the outcome of the election, it is likely to have an impact on next year’s parliamentary elections and the 2026 assembly elections.
Polling for the Erode East Assembly by-election is scheduled to take place on February 27 and counting on March 2.
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