2 months ago
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The mostly agrarian Tirukkoyilur Assembly Constituency successful Villupuram territory is witnessing a generational displacement successful the upcoming Assembly elections connected April 23. The sitting MLA and enactment strongman successful northbound Tamil Nadu K. Ponmudi has been denied spot for the elections.
Mr. Ponmudy has been replaced by his archetypal lad and erstwhile MP Gowtham Sigamani, arsenic the campaigner of the ruling DMK. He is facing a combat from S. Palanisamy of the AIADMK and Hemarajan, an advocator of the Naam Tamilar Katchi. The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam is besides successful the fray.
Though the DMK has taken up an extended outreach run successful the constituency successful the past fewer days, determination seems to beryllium a discernible anti-incumbency temper against Mr. Ponmudi, fixed helium has been the MLA for 2 presumption now.
In April 2025, Mr. Ponmudy ran into occupation aft the Madras High Court directed its Registry to instrumentality up a suo motu writ petition with respect to a derogatory code made by him against Saivites, Vaishnavites, and women. He resigned connected April 27, 2025. It is possibly aft sensing the anti-incumbency origin against Mr. Ponmudi that the DMK refused to allocate the spot to him, DMK partymen said.
After the delimitation workout successful 2008, Tirukkoyilur has seen 3 elections from 2011. The DMK has won it 2 times portion the DMDK won it once. For now, Mr. Gowtham Sigamani treads a tricky way of battling anti-incumbency portion the AIADMK hopes to currency successful connected it.
Cup of woes overflows
For the residents of the constituency, the cupful of woes has been overflowing. The foremost among them is the wounds caused by the bifurcation of Kallakurichi territory that was hived disconnected Villupuram territory successful 2019. The mode successful which the bifurcation was done has near down a heavy consciousness of disappointment and a way of bitter memories.
According to M. Ravichandran, a elder citizen, “Tirukkoyilur is endowed with affluent taste and humanities significance, including the famed Kabilar Kundru. The constituency is simply a large cultivation hub and is good connected by roadworthy and obstruction networks. Though Tirukkoyilur was the 2nd large administrative headquarters, adjacent lone to Cuddalore successful the erstwhile South Arcot district, it has been wholly neglected now.”
He added, “The bifurcation which was done successful a haphazard mode has fixed emergence to a piquant situation. The gross territory of Tirukkoyilur is successful Kallakurichi territory portion the Assembly constituency is successful Villupuram district. Tirukkoyilur should person been the District Headquarters. Though the bifurcation was carried retired during the erstwhile AIADMK regime, the radical wanted the gross territory to beryllium merged with Villupuram. There is simply a disgruntlement among voters that nary steps were taken during Mr. Ponmudy’s tenure to code the issue,” helium said.
The constituency has besides been facing a fig of civic and infrastructure issues. The civic assemblage is yet to a found a robust underground drainage strategy portion rampant encroachments connected waterbodies, including an underground canal from the Sandaipettai water to 2 temple ponds successful the municipality has strained the civic infrastructure.
Over the years, the postulation congestion has besides accrued successful the town. T. Mudhukundran, a long-time nonmigratory of Tirukkoyilur, said portion neighbouring Sankarapuram Assembly constituency successful Kallakurichi district, besides represented by the DMK had seen bully development, Tirukkoyilur has been wholly neglected.
“Though Mr. Ponmudy served arsenic the Minister for Higher Education, the constituency was sanctioned a Government Arts and Science College rather late. The assemblage should person travel up 25 years ago. Similarly, the request for constitution of a Government Girls Higher Secondary School astatine Arakandanallur has been pending for implicit 10 years. Though onshore has been identified for the school, nary steps person been taken truthful far,” helium said.
Though onshore has been identified for the operation of a autobus basal successful Tirukkoyilur town, the residents and civilian nine organisations are up successful arms against the determination and person demanded that the autobus basal beryllium shifted to the outskirts of the town.
