Development takes centre stage in star versus doctor battle in Thousand Lights constituency

    J Sivaprasanna Kumar
Chennai, Mar 31 (PTI) This might be a battle between
a popular star and a medical doctor known for his strong
Dravidian ideology but BJP's Khushbu Sundar and DMK's Dr N
Ezhilan have based their fight on development in the city's
Thousand Lights constituency for the April 6 Assembly polls.
    As an interesting aside, the candidates of all major
parties in the fray--DMK, BJP, AMMK, veteran star Kamal
Haasan-led MNM and Naam Tamizhar Katchi (NTK), helmed by
another actor Seeman, are all making their electoral debut
from here, known as "Ayiram Vilakku" in Tamil.
    Although Sundar has been in active politics for long,
initially in DMK and then in Congress before switching over
to the saffron party recently, this is the first time she is
taking the electoral plunge.
    More than the star power or ideological war,
developmental issues dominate the keenly watched contest
between Sundar and Ezhilan as both vie with each other in
connecting with the people in the constituency promising more
amenities and development.
    Despite its multicultural tag, the Thousand Lights
assembly constituency, a segment of the Chennai Central Lok
Sabha seat, is conspicuous by its rich poor divide.
    It accommodates swanky commercial buildings and
residences of actors and political leaders and also has good
number of slums and some decrepit housing board apartments.
    Civic amenities and pucca infrastructure continue to
be a long pending demand of the people in this constituency.
    Sundar, whose presence in the electoral fray has
transformed this segment into a 'star' constituency with the
likes of Union Minister Smriti Irani campaigning for her, is
hopeful of ensuring the smiles on the faces of the people of
this constituency.
During her intense campaign, she patiently listens to
people's problems and assures to improve roads, provide
drinking water and improve the drainage facility.
    Mixing of sewage water with drinking water is another
problem confronting the people here.
    With the warm hugs from many women during her
campaign trail, Sundar who also christens babies, assures
that the people's voice, particularly those of the women and
girls, will be heard in the assembly if she is elected as a
legislator.
    The BJP is fighting the polls in alliance with the
ruling AIADMK.
    Her rival candidate Ezhilan, who has a plan to provide
playgrounds with turf and community halls, is keen on
establishing libraries and eco-parks in Thousand Lights.
    Vaidhyanathan N, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam
candidate contesting on pressure cooker symbol, blames both
the Dravidian majors for neglecting development in the
constituency. AMMK is led by TTV Dhinakaran.
    MNM candidate K M Shariff and NTK's Sherine A J, too,
like Sundar, Ezhilan and Vaidhyanathan are making their
electoral debut.
    Thousand Lights has been in the limelight as it was
represented by DMK president M K Stalin in the 1989, 1996,
2001 and 2006 elections, before the former deputy Chief
Minister shifted to the city's Kolathur constituency in 2011
which has elected him twice since then. He is contesting from
there this time as well.
    In the 2011 election, AIADMK's former state minister
B Valarmathi won the seat but lost it in the 2016 election to
DMK's K K Selvam who has since joined the saffron party.
    The AIADMK had won the seat in the 1980, 1984 and
1991 elections too.
    Wondering if this was really the DMK fort as being
claimed, Tamil Nadu chief minister K Palaniswami, campaigning
for Sundar recently, sought to know what Stalin did when he
was Chennai Mayor and Municipal Administration Minister or
Deputy CM.
"He didn't do anything. No proper roads, no sanitation
programme, drainage facility or water storage system. Our
government (AIADMK) built the storm water drains in Chennai
and improved the infrastructure," he said.
    A total of 2.42 lakh voters will decide the fate of
20 candidates in fray on April 6 with the battle lines
clearly drawn between AIADMK-BJP combine and the opposition
DMK.
    Royapettah, Gopalapuram, Choolaimedu, Chetpet,
Nungambakkam, Kodambakkam and parts of T Nagar form the
Thousand Lights constituency. PTI JSP SA
ROH ROH

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)