The Karur constituency is poised for a fierce battle, with AIADMK’s Transport Minister MR Vijayabhaskar and DMK’s former Transport Minister V.K. Senthil Balaji is waving swords.
Amidst mutual accusations over the use of money power, the constituency is undergoing fierce and hectic electrification.
Mr. Balaji returned to his home ground for the purpose of taking on his longtime political rival, Mr. Vijayabhaskar. In 2006 and 2011, he won from the constituency as a candidate for AIADMK. But in 2016, she was transferred to Aravakurichi by former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, who removed her from the post of district secretary. Chief Minister Edappadi K. He was disqualified as an MLA for rebelling against Palaniswami and turning loyalty to the AMMK. He later joined the DMK and won the by-election in Aravakurichi in 2019.
According to one industrialist, there has been a labor shortage in Karur since the election announcement, as a section of male workers was lured by the parties. It is a month-long festival for workers as they receive “money, liquor and biryani”.
Lack of drinking water is a major electoral issue here. Although Amravati passes through the city and Cauvery is nearby, residents are facing water scarcity as supplies are limited to once every five days.
Environmentalists are up in arms over the discharge of untreated wastes by dyeing units in Noyal and Amravati. The long pending demand among the residents about the construction of a new bus stand between the AIADMK and the DMK is another major issue.
The city, a major home textile manufacturing and export hub, was thronged by DMK and AIADMK with a crowd of thousands on Monday, when Mr. Balaji and Mr. Vijayabhaskar filed nominations.
Though MNM, NTK and DMDK have fielded their candidates, the real fight is between Mr. Balaji and Mr. Vijayabhaskar. These two are leaving no stone unturned to win the confidence of the voters.
The constituency has a large population of influential Kongu Vellala gounders, besides Mudaliars, Pillis, Vaniyars, Chettiyars and Dalits. Both Mr. Balaji and Mr. Vijayabhaskar are Kongu Velela gounders, and see the election as a ‘do or die’ battle.
Anticipating a fierce battle from Shri Balaji, Mr. Vijayabhaskar launched an image-promoting campaign several months ago by planting hundreds of trees along the roadside across the city. The MRV Trust, named after him, maintains the trees well. Mr. Vijayabhaskar has enhanced the confidence of a section of the electorate by “attending and sponsoring” social, cultural and community functions. A section of entrepreneurs owning textile and bus body building units feel that the minister has acted as a bridge to resolve the grievances.
It was during his tenure as a minister that the Government Medical College was established. Using his proximity to the Chief Minister, Mr. Vijayabaskar fulfilled most of his promises to voters, party officials.
Banking on his acquaintance with the voters, Mr. Balaji is going door-to-door to get the support of the voters. His tendency to repeatedly change political affiliations and his sudden rise in the party ranks has led to increased discontent among a section of the DM cadre.
Karur is the stronghold of the AIADMK. In elections held here since 1977, the party won seven, the DMK three and the Congress one. Mr. Vijayabaskar won the 2016 election with a narrow margin of 441 votes. But given the changed political equations and high stakes, the constituency is headed for a photo finish.
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