Development and resentment among the farmers may decide the manner of the vote of the residents of this western constituency.
Chief Minister Edappadi K. For Palaniswami, a lot is at stake on Edappadi’s own home ground in Salem district. He has been contesting from the seat for the sixth time since 1989, PMK’s V in 2006. Were defeated by Kaveri.
For the first time, the constituency itself will vote for a chief ministerial candidate, whose helm in his backyard will also be subject to scrutiny.
The constituency as the Chief Minister in the Legislative Assembly has undoubtedly benefited immensely. In his campaign, Mr. Palaniswami has left no opportunity to highlight the rapid development in the area, including new flyovers, the Mettur Surplus Water Scheme and the establishment of a livestock research institute in the district. As much as they deny, political audiences say they will have to face resentment among farmers over land acquisition for the development of the Green Corridor Expressway from Salem to Chennai.
Farming and weaving are the main occupations here. Mr. Palaniswami first introduced himself as a farmer, which meant that his government would not mean any harm to agriculture. The DMK, especially its chairman MK Stalin, has rejected the claim. The DMK has accused the Chief Minister of being anti-farmer. The AIADMK’s support to land acquisition and agricultural laws brought by the Center for the Green Corridor project are key issues that the DMK has flagged against Mr. Palaniswami. How far will the farm loan waiver go to see the AIADMK.
Debt waiver
DM Selam West District in-charge TM Selvaganapathy says, “The public is questioning the government’s intention behind the waiver of the cooperative bank and the gold loan as Mr. Stalin promised similar relief.”
Mr. Palaniswami would be hoping that schemes like diversion of surplus water from Mettur dam would help fill 100 dry lakes in Edappadi, Omalur, Sankri and Mettur which would help farmers win. The farmers hope that the Surplus Water Diversion Scheme will improve the ground water level in the area. However, Mr. Selvaganapathi considers the scheme as a manifestation. “Only 25% of the work is completed and the inauguration is done to deceive the public,” he says.
He said that the lack of jobs is a serious issue. “During the Makkal Gram Sabha held here, we received over 10,000 applications from graduates alone for jobs. Unemployment is a major issue.
CS Karthik, a graduate, says that although the basic needs of the constituency, such as water and roads, have been met, there is a shortage of jobs for graduates as no new industry has started in the area.
AIADMK’s hopes also rest on caste and coalition. Gounders and Vanniyars are the predominant community in the district. A gounder in his home district, Mr. Palaniswami believes his position is strong. His party is in alliance with the PMK, which has the support of the Vanniyars. PMK came second after AIADMK in the 2011 and 2016 elections. However, other gounder parties are leaving some influence in the region, observers say.
Among the Padmaavatists against Sri Palaniswami, T. of the DMK. D. of Sampat Kumar and Makkal Nadhi Maim. This is Thasapraj.
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