ERODE: As summer peaks, Bhavani River, a major tributary of the Cauvery, dwindles and struggles to flow. Gobichettipalayam, nestled on its banks, is enveloped by lush green paddy fields, swaying sugarcane, and sprawling banana plantations. Just 14 km away stands the Kodiveri Dam, a masonry check dam that diverts water into the Thadapalli-Arakkankottai irrigation canal, serving as a lifeline of the constituency.
The town’s government offices, bus stand, hospital, and shopping streets are all neatly lined up along a single main road. Signs of urbanisation remain faint. No matter which direction one travels from the town centre, roads quickly give way to green fields, where villagers toil for their daily bread. The scene looks idyllic: tea stalls buzzing with activity, grains spread out to dry on the road, and irrigation canals flowing gently along the roads.
Located amidst such scenic surroundings, Gobichettipalayam, also called Gobi, has been steadily drawing attention in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape over the past few months. The reason: KA Sengottaiyan. The electoral battlefield in Gobi has completely changed since September last year, with the former AIADMK minister and eight-time MLA from the constituency switching his loyalty to Vijay’s TVK, after being expelled from the ‘Two Leaves’ party.
It all started with Sengottaiyan issuing a 10-day ultimatum to AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami to reinstate expelled leaders. After he travelled to Pasumpon in Ramanathapuram in the same car with former CM O Panneerselvam and AMMK founder TTV Dhinakaran, he, along with his supporters were expelled from the party in October. A month later, he joined TVK in presence of actor Vijay. Once a campaign manager for former CM J Jayalalithaa, Sengottaiyan is now tasked with guiding TVK in its bid to enter the Assembly.
Gobi has been a bastion of AIADMK since 1971, with Sengottiayan winning eight out of the 10 contests. DMK won only twice during the last six decades, in 1971 and 1996, , the latter amid a massive anti-incumbency wave against AIADMK that reduced the party to four seats in the House. In 1996, DMK’s GP Venkidu beat Sengottaiyan by a margin of close to 15,000 votes. Sengottaiyan is nonchalant. “People love me, and I love them. People’s verdict is the verdict of God. TVK will win in all constituencies,” he told reporters.
As he enters the fray with TVK, DMK sees a golden opportunity to repeat 1996. The party has fielded its Erode North district secretary, N Nallasivam. Though new to the constituency, he is expected to pose a tough challenge to Sengottaiyan. “This time, even if he had contested on behalf of AIADMK, he would have faced defeat. Because he did nothing for the constituency,” Nallasivam tells TNIE.
In AIADMK, the party leadership has given an opportunity to VB Prabhu, the West Union secretary of Gobichettipalayam. He is contesting his first Assembly election. He has the responsibility to retain AIADMK’s influence in the constituency. Prabhu believes the ‘Two Leaves’ symbol still holds sway. “Sengottaiyan has won so far because of the ‘Two Leaves’ symbol.”
MK Seethalakshmi, NTK candidate, raises the issue of basic amenities and lack of them in Gobi. “Basic amenities for the people remain unfulfilled in many villages here. During the campaign, people in a village informed me that they depend on a neighbouring village for the cremation ground. I also see villages without proper toilet facilities.”
As you take a stroll around Gobi, you can’t miss the bus stand that remains undeveloped. All government offices located on the city’s main road operate in old buildings. Traffic congestion within the city is also heavy. TNIE gauged that Sengottaiyan’s influence remains unaffected in the suburbs but on a negative swing in the urban areas.
Subi Thalapathi, president of Kodiveri Dam – Bhavani River Irrigation Farmers Association, says that Sengottaiyan did not pay sufficient attention to improving infrastructure facilities. “But there are no major corruption allegations against him.
The expulsion from AIADMK helped him garner sympathy from some section of voters, but some others feel that he defected to a ‘cinema party’,” he says. According to Thalapathi, the election is going to be tough. “DMK’s Nallasivam belongs to Bhavani. Since he is the party’s district secretary, local DMK cadres will definitely work for him.” He thinks, AIADMK has not paid sufficient attention in the candidate selection.
C Sakthivel, a wage labourer of Serangadu village, still swears by Sengottaiyan. “We can easily approach him for anything. It does not matter to us which party he joins,” he says.