Velachery: Youngest constituency looks for solutions to old problems

It's the biggest constituency in Chennai city (nearly three lakh voters) and among the youngest too (having made its Assembly debut in 2011), but Velachery is now on every party's radar for being the most battered and bruised - drained by the recent floods and drowning in traffic woes.
Fed up with what has become of their neighbourhood, residents of this constituency say they hope the potential MLAs streaming through their streets know what they really need, especially since the constituency is spread over Alandur, Pallikarnai, Perangudi, all the way through to Tiruvanmiyur.While the residents at the Velachery end say they want their drainage and traffic situation improved, those on the Tiruvanmiyur side are begging for better primary health care centres.
In a bid to woo disgruntled voters, the AIADMK is sending in MC Munusamy, bursting through the traffic-jammed streets with his barrage of loudspeakers, firecrackers and folk artistes, hoping to make up for lost ground. He's taken the area's first MLA MK Ashok from their party off the beat this election, but is putting up a good fight. "We don't want the sun," blares a speaker from Munnusamy's musical tempo, referring to rival party DMK's party symbol, as the cavalcade blocks traffic on East Coast Road.
"I don't care about who comes to power, as long as they bring back the hospital that was here," says Maheswari, clutching her baby as she wades through the traffic pile-up on Thiruveethi Amma Koil Street, caused by overzealous campaigners. In Adyar, the DMK's "sun" is trying hard to shine, with veteran actor Vagai Chandrasekhar hoping to sweep voters off their feet in his role of friend and confidante, one that he has been mastering on screen for the last 25 years.
Chandrasekhar, though 200 films old, is making his political debut with Velachery, a constituency, which he says, he and his family chose because they are long-time residents of Adyar, and because the constituency was among the worst-hit by the floods. "I saw how the city came together to help one another. I know what this constituency needs to restore it to its former self. I will give the people that," says Chandrasekhar, whose promises include the 4Ps - primary health centres, parking lots, playgrounds and proper drainage.
"Are they giving us water finally," asks Ettiammal, 85, as she is hauled out of her house to meet Chandrasekhar.
"I am one of the oldest residents here, so I get called out to meet every candidate who passes this way. I always hope to get some gift, but it's a waste; I just get smiles and camera clicks," she says.
Not to be outdone by his DMK and AIADMK counterparts, BJP candidate Dolphin Sridharan too is bringing in the big guns to win over Velachery. For the Assembly elections in 2011, he roped in dream girl Hema Malini to add a little stardust to a campaign in Virugambakkam that he lost. He is now trying his luck with a little charm from BJP star politico and HRD minister Smriti Irani. "At least my manifesto is fresh," says Sridharan.
"The other party candidates merely need to dust out their old manifestos. They had their turn and didn't do much. The overbridges are incomplete, traffic is worsening and there is no end to the drainage problems," he says. "This constituency, which represents young and upcoming Chennai, should have been the showpiece of the city. Instead the MLA who comes in now has to start by picking up the pieces," says Sridharan.