The South Chennai Parliament constituency, renowned for its educational institutions and IT companies, is bracing for a three-way battle in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls on April 19.
The ruling DMK, AIADMK, and BJP will vie for victory, with incumbent DMK MP T Sumathy, also known as Tamizhachi Thangapandian, facing off against former Telangana Governor and BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan.
The AIADMK has fielded ex-MP Dr J Jayavardhan, the winner from this constituency in 2014.
Tamilisai resigned as governor earlier this week to rejoin the BJP, which has nominated her for this segment. Expressing confidence in her victory, she emphasized her 40-year residency and understanding of the constituency’s issues.
Jayavardhan is banking on his previous tenure’s welfare initiatives in health and railway sectors.
The constituency, home to IT professionals, entrepreneurs, and business leaders, grapples with challenges like waterlogging, erratic power supply, and road maintenance issues. The devastating impact of the December 2023 floods disrupted daily life, highlighting the pressing need for infrastructure improvements.
Comprising six legislative assembly segments, the Congress represents Velachery, while the rest have DMK MLAs. Historically a DMK stronghold, the constituency has seen the party triumph five times, with AIADMK emerging victorious twice. Although BJP secured third place in the 2014 elections, it aims to make significant strides this time.
Political analysts suggest an advantage for Thamizhachi due to the split in opposition votes between AIADMK and BJP candidates. However, concerns linger among residents regarding the handling of the 2023 floods, posing a potential challenge for Thangapandian’s reelection bid.
Meanwhile, real estate developers eye South Chennai’s burgeoning potential, fueled by the presence of prestigious educational institutions and top IT firms. With demand surging, the region attracts investment in large-scale projects, particularly in areas like Adyar and Velacherry, driven by the thriving IT sector along key corridors.
With nearly 2 million voters, including a substantial transgender population, South Chennai remains a critical battleground in the upcoming elections.
In the 2019 general election, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) achieved a notable feat by securing 37.36 percent of the total votes, marking the highest vote share attained by any political party in India since the 1989 election. The BJP’s individual victory stood at 303 seats, contributing to a cumulative tally of 353 seats for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). In contrast, the Indian National Congress, led by Rahul Gandhi, clinched 52 seats, while the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) under its leadership secured a total of 98 seats.
The 2019 Lok Sabha elections unfolded in seven phases, spanning from April 11 to May 19, with results announced on May 23. Ahead of the upcoming polls, campaigning has already commenced, with the BJP setting its sights on securing over 400 seats out of the total 543 in the Lok Sabha.
As per the extensive News18 Opinion Poll conducted recently, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is poised to reclaim power in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections of 2024 with a significant majority. The survey anticipates the BJP-led NDA to clinch 411 Lok Sabha seats, surpassing the 400-seat target envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the slogan, “Abki baar 400 paar.” The last instance of a party securing more than 400 seats occurred in 1984 when the Congress Party secured 411 seats out of 542 at stake. The projected NDA vote share is expected to reach 48% in the impending General Elections.
Contrastingly, the Congress-led I.N.D.I.A. alliance is forecasted to secure 105 seats, marking an improvement from the 91 seats it garnered in its previous iteration as the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in 2019. Other smaller parties are anticipated to secure 27 seats, as indicated by the opinion poll findings.
Within the alliance framework, the BJP is anticipated to enhance its seat count to 350, while other NDA partners are expected to contribute 61 seats, according to the poll. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP secured 303 seats, contributing to the NDA’s cumulative tally of 353.
The Election Commission has disclosed that approximately 97 crore Indians will be eligible to cast their votes in this year’s Lok Sabha elections, reflecting a 6 percent increase in registered voters since 2019. The electoral rolls underwent nationwide publication in early February following an intensive Special Summary Revision 2024 process.
Ongoing efforts are underway to evaluate the feasibility of conducting simultaneous elections across India. Several states, including Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh, are gearing up to conduct concurrent Lok Sabha and assembly polls. The terms of the Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Sikkim Assemblies are slated to expire on June 11, June 2, June 24, and June 2 respectively.
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