Sleepy Perambalur Seat Wakes Up as Four-cornered Contest Injects Life
Unlike the earlier elections, the present scenario in Perambalur parliamentary constituency, the home town of former union minister A Raja has become a lively one, as the voters in this backward constituency are witnessing a four-cornered battle.
With the two Dravidian parties DMK, AIADMK and a national party-Congress, the lone candidate of Indiya Jananayaka Katchi contestant TR Pachamuthu, with the support of the DMDK, MDMK, PMK and BJP are in the fray.
The AIADMK is already marching ahead in campaign, after nominating RP Marutharaja and its arch rival the DMK has announced Seemanur Prabhu as its contestant. Both of them belong to Muthuraja community, a dominant group among 6 communities in Perambalur.
Mutharaiyar community became the dominant one after delimitation in 2009 as the newly inducted assembly constituencies such as Musiri, Manachanallur and Kulithalai are dominated by them.
There is resentment over lack of activity of the present DMK MP D Napoleon among the general public. The constituency was once dominated by Dalit community before delimitation. However, now it has two reserved assembly segments in Thuraiyur and Perambalur. This could not be useful for the DMK alliance, says AIADMK cadre.
Next to Mutharaiyar, Dalits, Udaiyars, Reddiars and Konars are also present in sizable numbers. Considerable presence of Udaiyars are seen in certain areas including Lalgudi, another assembly constituency falling under the Perambalur seat.
One seat has been allocated in the BJP camp, to the Indiya Jananayaka Katchi (IJK) floated by SRM Group of Institutions founder TR Pachamuthu, belonging to Udaiyar community. The IJK contested alone in the 2011 assembly elections and lost its deposit. But, this time, it has the support of parties in the BJP front. M Rajasekaran of Congress, who served as MLA in Thottiam assembly constituency is the party candidate now.