Sholinganallur Constituency Candidates Confront Voter Concerns in Heated Exchange
Candidates representing four major political parties in the Sholinganallur constituency took a brief pause from their rigorous campaign schedules on Saturday to engage directly with the electorate. The event, orchestrated by the Federation of OMR Resident Associations (FOMRRA), provided a platform for residents, predominantly employees of IT companies, to pose challenging inquiries to the aspiring leaders. The sitting MLA, S Aravind Ramesh of the DMK, faced intense scrutiny over unmet commitments, with a particular focus on the long-awaited promise of reliable piped water supply to households.
Residents Demand Accountability and Clear Roadmaps
Voters expressed frustration with the persistent issues stemming from rapid urbanisation in one of Tamil Nadu's fastest-growing constituencies. They pressed the candidates to outline concrete plans for addressing critical infrastructure deficits. The participants included DMK's S Aravind Ramesh, AIADMK's KP Kandan—a former MLA of Sholinganallur, TVK's ECR P Saravanamoorthy, a field worker emerging from the actor Vijay Makkal Iyakkam, and NTK's Jayalakshmi Raman, a former IT professional. Each candidate arrived prepared to defend their records and propose solutions to the constituency's pressing challenges.
Candidate Promises and Pledges on Key Issues
TVK candidate Saravanamoorthy pledged to establish a one-stop digital portal to streamline the handling of all resident complaints. "A resident of Sholinganallur currently endures a 45-minute commute for a journey that should take only 10 minutes due to severe traffic congestion," he emphasised. Resolving traffic bottlenecks and ensuring piped water supply were highlighted as his top priorities. In response, DMK candidate Aravind Ramesh detailed his accomplishments, such as constructing underground sewage systems, laying water supply pipelines, implementing storm water drainage networks, and building electric crematoriums. He also mentioned ongoing efforts to connect Radial Road in Thoraipakkam to the East Coast Road. "I successfully removed toll gates in Perungudi, Thoraipakkam, Medavakkam, and Sholinganallur. The traffic situation is expected to improve significantly once the metrorail becomes operational. Additionally, we have initiated piped water supply to gated communities," Ramesh asserted.
Past Records and Future Visions Highlighted
AIADMK candidate KP Kandan pointed to his previous tenure as MLA from 2011 to 2016, during which he addressed garbage collection, road maintenance, flooding, and drinking water problems. "If elected, I guarantee 137 litres of water per person daily in this constituency," he vowed. NTK's Jayalakshmi Raman committed to prioritising the construction of high-quality roads in Sholinganallur. "Our focus will be on ensuring access to quality education, healthcare, and water, rather than distributing freebies. We must collectively oppose the freebie culture promoted in political party manifestos," she declared.
Voter Demographics and Informed Decision-Making
Harsha Koda, co-founder of FOMRRA, noted that gated communities account for approximately one-fourth of the constituency's 5.8 lakh voters. This demographic insight aims to empower residents to make well-informed choices ahead of casting their ballots. The interactive session underscored the critical role of voter engagement in shaping electoral outcomes, as candidates vie for support in a constituency grappling with the dual pressures of growth and governance.
