Jaya verdict shatters hopes of electorate in Srirangam

TRICHY: Former chief minister Jayalalithaa's conviction in the disproportionate assets case followed by her disqualification as an MLA has virtually shattered the hopes of many in Srirangam assembly constituency which elected her three years ago.
They are afraid that various developmet projects announced by her would not be implemented.
The announcements of developmental works ranging from toilet facility to national law school in Srirangam constituency had brought smiles to the faces of people after the election of Jayalalithaa as the MLA of this constituency.
Srirangam constituency attained VVIP status among all the other constituencies in the state since 2011 after Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK government came to power with a thumping majority. If the chief minister announced a new scheme, it would become a pilot project in Srirangam constituency, a resident pointed out.
Since Srirangam is the birth place of Jayalalithaa's forefathers, it was not surprising that she announced a slew of schemes like road connectivity, hospitality facilities, educational institutions and industries for the constituencky comprising the temple town Srirangam and some rural parts.
In her official visit to Srirangam on June 30 this year, Jayalalithaa said that her government had initiated 5200 schemes to be implemented at an estimated cost of Rs 2185 crore for Srirangam constituency. Foundation stones had been laid in respect of all these projects. Many of the schemes remain half implemented. Yet, the expectations which ran high among the people in the constituency may not be fulfilled if the developmental works are stalled due to lack of attention.
"Whenever she came to Srirangam in the past three years, the chief minister announced many schemes for the development of her constituency. Now, the situation has become uncertain after her conviction. So, we are not sure whether the announced schemes will be implemented properly and new schemes will be given to the constituency," said a local resident Balasubramanian.
On the other hand, some residents lamented that nothing will change because of her conviction. "Even though she initiated new schemes, many of them remained only on paper. A proper bus stand has not been set up in Srirangam as yet and the road facility has not improved. So, nothing will affect us," said a skeptical resident K Srinivasan.
The pious women residents consider her arrest during Dasara festival a bad omen for the state and expressed their sympathy towards her. "Though the law takes its own course against those who committed offences, we feel pity for Jayalalithaa because she initiated many efforts to improve Srirangam. Moreover, her arrest during the Dasara festival does not augur well," said a woman resident on the condition of anonymity.
Jayalalithaa loyalists are not much perturbed because they hope their charismatic leader would come back after an appeal against the judgment. "Our leader announced a lot of schemes of which 75 % were completed. The judgment might have gone against her but she would be surely back to serve the state and our Srirangam constituency would be on the developing path under her guidance," said M Thiruvenkatam.