Advantage CPI in North Chennai

Advantage CPI in North Chennai
Published Date: 7/4/2009 - (NIE)

G Saravanan

Chennai, April 6: THE poll arithmetic seems to be turning the CPI’s way in North Chennai following the DMK’s announcement that they will be fielding a relatively unknown face for the seat, replacing four-time winner C Kuppusamy.

D Pandian, a stalwart of the party and the most likely candidate for the constituency, has a good rapport among the voters of North Chennai and it may be noted that he had represented the constituency twice, winning on both occasions in 1989 and 91.

Moreover, the delimitation exercise has changed the whole dynamic of the constituency and strengthened the AIADMK-led front’s bid to wrest the DMK stronghold this time. Areas like Madhavaram, Ambattur and Puzhal, well-known DMK pockets which were earlier with North Chennai are now with the newly created Tiruvallur (reserved) and adjoining Sriperambudur Parliamentary constituencies.

Besides electricity problems, the Sri Lankan Tamil genocide issue, which is going to be a major poll plank in the State, would also help the CPI candidate to garner more votes since voters are perplexed with the DMK’s flip-flops on the matter. Since the constituency has a considerable labour population, it will also help Pandian, a veteran trade unionist, to garner more votes in the election.

On the other hand, DMK’s candidate T K S Elangovan, who replaced senior MP and trade union leader C Kuppusamy, is an unknown face among the voters in the constituency. According to sources, the selection of the former bank employee and organising secretary of the DMK for the important North Chennai seat has not gone down well with party cadre who were expecting somebody more prominent.