Intense competition on cards in dry Kovilpatti

The Kovilpatti assembly constituency is set to witness an intense electoral battle, with Information Minister Kadambur c. Raju faced AMVK founder TTV Dhinakaran and CPI (M) KK. Happening with Srinivasan, who is the DMK-led Secular Progressive Progressive candidate. Treaty.

Since the soil of this rain-shadow region is suitable for groundnut cultivation, Kovilupatti, which is the second largest city in Thoothukudi district, is known for manufacturing Kadalai Mitai And even earned a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for improved product quality. In addition, the match industry provides livelihood to many families, even automation is going on in the region.

Spinning mills get their raw material – cotton – from the region, and firecracker units also ensure regular income for the local people.

Although agriculture is the main occupation here, residents here cultivate low rainfall crops like groundnut, maize, green gram and black gram.

With a broad base of laborers from these regions, the Kovilpatti constituency is naturally close to the heart of the CPI, which has won this segment in seven of the 15 elections, followed by AIADMK (four), Indian National Congress (three) and An Independent, who won in 1957.

While the AIADMK has reiterated its trust in Mr. Raju for the third consecutive time since 2011, though he won the 2016 election by just 428 votes, DMK shied away from directly challenging the minister and made the seat an ally.

Mr. Dhinakaran has thrown his hat in the ring. Although the presence of a large number of voters from the Mukkulathor community in Kovilpatti after delimitation is seen as their strength, there is a school of thought that this may be the reason for their loss. “If Mukulakular voters are seen as supporting Mr. Dhinakaran en wartsThis will lead to polarization of voters from other communities. This could favor either Mr. Raju or Mr. Srinivasan, both of whom belong to the Naikar community. My guess is that Mr. Srinivasan may get the support of voters from other communities.

He says that the three murders that have taken place in recent years in this peace-dwelling city with caste changes have upset the peace-loving citizens. “So, they will vote against any caste polarization,” he says. Unlike the high-profile candidates of AIADMK and AMMK, Srinivasan is considered a general, as seen when he filed his nomination without much fanfare.

When the 2016 assembly election saw a three-pronged fight between the AIADMK, the DMK and the DMDK-led People’s Welfare Front, the competition was close. Since the Left has a large presence and the MDMK, which polled 28,512 votes in 2016, is now in the DMK-led front, Srinivasan’s supporters hope it will work to his advantage. However, hurting at his “achievements”, Mr. Raju believes it will be a “hat-trick win” for him. Those who support Mr. Dhinakaran believe that he will be surprised in the 2017 by-election in RK Nagar in the same way.