Akin to 2024 bypoll, DMK and PMK are set to lock horns yet again in Vikravandi constituency

The DMK and the PMK are locking horns yet again in the Vikravandi Assembly constituency, making it almost a repeat of the 2024 bypoll.

While sitting DMK MLA Anniyur Siva is in the fray, the PMK is yet to announce its candidate for the poll. The party’s C. Anbumani who put up a spirited fight during the bypoll and Mailam sitting MLA C. Sivakumar have sought tickets and the PMK is expected to field one of them.

In the 2024 by-election, the DMK won the seat by a wide margin of 67,757 votes. The AIADMK and the DMDK had then boycotted the polls.

However, it will be a neck-to-neck fight this time and it will be difficult for the DMK to repeat its impressive performance this time around even though the DMDK has joined hands with it.

The constituency consists of Vanniyars, Dalits, religious minorities and caste equations, like in other constituencies in Villupuram district, play a significant role in the final outcome here. Though the constituency has a strong presence of Vanniyars, the PMK has never won from here.

Encompassing two unions — Vikravandi and Kaanai, and seven panchayats in Koliyanur Union, the Vikravandi constituency is essentially a rain-fed region where agriculture is the main vocation. Paddy is the major crop and farmers have been reeling under acute shortage of water for irrigation. 

For long, farmers in Kaanai and Vikravandi have been demanding the construction of a check dam across Thenpennai river to harness rain flows and shore up the water table, and proper maintenance/modernisation of irrigation canals.

The implementation of the Nandan canal project is another major demand. Though the government had sanctioned ₹42 crore for the project during the fag end of its tenure, it is yet to take off.

The slow pace of construction of a flyover at Mundiyampakkam coupled with absolute lack of safety measures, has been a nightmare for the residents of Janakipuram. 

Breathing dust and negotiating pothole-ridden roads, the residents want the project to be completed at the earliest.

The constituency is also known for poor infrastructure, narrow roads, garbage clearance issues, water scarcity and traffic issues.

“There are many issues that the area is facing, a major one is of water-logging during rains where rainwater enters our houses. This was evident during the 2024 floods. Irrespective of the party affiliation, the next elected representative should ensure that the issue is addressed,” said V. Kanagaraj, a resident of Vikravandi.

Of the seven Assembly constituencies in Villupuram district, the DMK won four (including Vikravandi) leaving the AIADMK and the PMK with two and one segments respectively in the 2021 elections.

Before delimitation of the constituencies, Vikravandi formed part of the Kandamangalam (Reserved) segment. In the 2011 elections, the first one after delimitation, Ramamurthy of the CPI (M) won the seat beating K. Rathamani of the DMK by a margin of 14,897 votes. 

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Siva said, “The constituency has seen road infrastructure, upgrade of the Government Villupuram Medical College and Hospital with additional buildings, establishment of a SIDCO industrial estate in Mandagapattu and others during my tenure.”