ஒக்கலிகர்

The hindu

Coimbatore: Kinathukkadavu, an agrarian Assembly segment, is all set to witness a keen contest between All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). The DMK has fielded Negamam K.V. Kandasamy against the sitting MLA, S. Damodaran of AIADMK.

The constituency has 1,55,672 voters (76,604 men and 79,068 women). The segment has more of Pooluva Gounders and Okkaliga Gowders besides a sizeable Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes population.

Electoral history

Since 1967 the constituency has returned DMK four times and AIADMK five times since 1977.

The Marumazharchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) treasurer and former Minister (both in the State and at the Centre), M. Kannappan, elected from this constituency in 1967 and 1971 on a DMK ticket.

The other major contestants are Muthuramalingam, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nominee and Latha Rani of Desiya Murpokku Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMDK).

The DMK nominee this time, Mr. Kandasamy, popularly known as "Negamam Napolean", was returned to the Assembly from this constituency thrice on an AIADMK ticket.

He had defeated the then DMK nominee, M. Kannappan, in 1977 and 1984 and a Congress nominee in 1980. This time Mr. Kandasamy is entering the fray on the DMK ticket. His rival Mr. Damodaran of AIADMK who romped home in 2001 is likely to face anti-incumbency factor.

AIADMK claims that it has provided good roads to almost all pockets and uninterrupted power supply through two sub-stations.

The other achievements that the AIADMK boasts of is relief worth Rs. 4 crore extended to coconut growers who were hit by eriophyid mite attack and successive droughts in 2002 and 2003.

Agriculture

A constituency with an agriculture base has a sizeable presence of weaving and coir industry. It is facing problems relating to water for irrigation needs since most of the irrigation needs of agriculture lands are met through the Parambikulam - Aliyar Project (PAP).

Vadachittur canal

The major unfulfilled election promises include a long pending demand for construction of Vadachittur canal under the PAP scheme for left-out areas to irrigate 5,000 acres in five villages and construction of Puliparai dam in lieu of a checkdam at Puravipalayam for enhancing irrigation prospects and to recharge ground water resources. Creation of a separate taluk for Kinathukkadavu (presently in Pollachi taluk) promised as early as 1993 is yet to materialise.

The constituency looks for fulfilment of earlier promises and an agro processing unit for agricultural produces.

Any assurance to review the PAP agreement with Kerala for a water sharing formula at times of distress will definitely go in favour of the candidate since the PAP has to serve the needs of nearly 4-lakh acres.