Housing the district headquarters, this Assembly segment is often cited for representations of underdevelopment. A mix of semi-urban electorate and a largely rural electorate that is dependent on agriculture, and migrant labour, the constituency has a series of issues that seek attention.
Lack of local industries and resultant unemployment is a singularly important election pitch for parties, particularly the PMK here. A SIPCOT was announced to be set up in Nallampalli here.
However, the project had reportedly run into trouble in land acquisition.
Today, a SIPCOT has figured among the election promises of parties. The largely rural part of the constituency is in need of well-conceived water harvesting and irrigation projects. A project to tap runoff from Thoppayar and a reservoir in Podhiyan Pallam has been among the demands of the farmers here.
The areas around Nallampalli are known for Palma rosa cultivation.
The lemon grass used to prepare an aromatic oil with medicinal, herbal and cosmetic benefits is being cultivated in several hundred acres here. But for the farmers, an institution support, for marketing and processing would be a livelihood intervention since the grass requires little water.
Also, the Defence Research Institute announced by the Defence ministry under the UPA government is yet to see fruition and the PMK appears to have taken this up in its local manifesto.
The constituency was held by the PMK for two successive terms in 2001 and2006.
The DMDK under the AIADMK alliance wrested the seat from the PMK in 2011 election.
PMK has fielded ex-MP Dr. Senthil in the fray here. Having represented the LS seat, Dr. Senthil is a familiar figure in the constituency.
The Assembly segment had fetched the highest votes for Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss’s victory in the Lok Sabha elections in 2014.
With the might of the party’s resident MP and its chief ministerial candidate Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, the PMK here is seen as a force to be reckoned.
The AIADMK appears to have scripted its own defeat by fielding a candidate perceived to have had no organisational loyalty.
P.D. Elangovan, the AIADMK candidate for Dharmapuri had jumped three parties in a decade that his candidature had reportedly surprised the candidate himself, while leaving behind a disillusioned and disgruntled local cadre.
Hailing from Cuddalore, Mr. Elangovan had contested the Lok Sabha seat for Dharmapuri as PMK candidate in 1989, 1991 and 1999, however winning the seat in 1999. In 2004, he jumped to the AIADMK to contest the same seat in 2004 parliamentary elections.
Failing to win, he moved over to the BJP, and later started a Vanniyar outfit. Mr. Elangovan eventually rejoined the AIADMK.
Lacking any organic link to the constituency since he’s seen a complete outsider, the AIADMK’s bid to the seat here looks bleak.
In contrast, the DMK has fielded T. Subramani, a local functionary from Thadangam here, considered well-known locally with roots in the constituency.
The DMDK has fielded its district secretary V. Elangovan here.
Though the DMDK is seen to be conspicuous by its low-keyed campaign trail here, the party seems to have pinned its hopes on the DMDK win in 2011, and the support of the allies in People’s Welfare Front.
