It had been a thriving hub of education, finance and business when Nagarathar held the sway in trade and commerce, but now is plagued with an array of civic issues. The town was home to Nagarathars or Chettiars, who established educational institutions, financial services, built temples and launched social welfare measures. Expanding their business activities, they migrated to countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and Burma in the 19th and early 20th centuries. They moved out to settle down in different parts of the world, but make it a point to meet once in a year during Sevvai Pongal at Nattarasankottai.
Part of Sivaganga Lok Sabha constituency, which was represented by former Union Minister P. Chidambaram for record seven terms since 1984, Karaikudi should be indebted to ‘Vallal’ Alagappa Chettiar, who gave all his money to build an educational empire to provide quality education to rural masses.
Chettinad has given birth to a galaxy of great people such as poet and lyricist Kannadasan, industrialist Raja Annamalai Chettiyar, Carnatic maestro Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, violin maestro Kundrakudi Vaidyanathan, mridangam maestro Karaikudi Mani and Kamban Adipodi Sa Ganesan.
Though the constituency resembled a Congress bastion, the people have given a fair chance to candidates of all parties, the DMK, AIADMK and Tamil Manila Congress, and even helped the BJP to open its account.
Congress nominee KR. Ramasamy, who won from Tiruvadanai Assembly segment for five successive terms and unsuccessfully contested from here in the last election, is testing his electoral fortunes again, sporting a clean image. He was targeted for a smear campaign that he would not be accessible to common people. He is pitted against former MLA and AIADMK Municipal Chairperson Karpagam Ilango, who is familiar with voters.
A protégé of Mr. Chidambaram, Mr. Ramasamy was supported by the DMK cadres but missed his leader, who is conspicuous by his absence. The MDMK has fielded Vaiko’s loyalist Seventhiappan. The BJP, PMK and the Naam Tamilar Katchi were also in the fray, but the fight has narrowed down between the Congress and the AIADMK.
