The battle for the ballot in Attur (Reserved) constituency has aroused interest thanks to the presence of S.K. Arthanari, National General Secretary of Indian Youth Congress and close lieutenant of Rahul Gandhi, in the fray.
Mr. Arthanari is pitted against R.M. Sinnathambi of AIADMK, G. Amasaveni (PMK) and K.P. Adityan (VCK), all the three new faces to poll scenario. This is the second consecutive time Mr. Arthanari is fighting the elections here. He was the Congress candidate in the DMK-Congress alliance in the 2011 elections too, but suffered defeat at the hands of S. Madheswaran of AIADMK by a margin of over 29,000 votes.
Attur constituency is spread over in two municipalities of Attur and Narasingapuram and parts of Attur and Pethanayakkanpalayam taluks. Vanniyars are dominant community, followed by Adidravidars, Udaiyars, Nayakkars, Kongu Vellalar, and Naidu community people.
Apart from farming, Attur town and surrounding areas account for a large number of rig units. A large number of sago factories are also in operation in Attur taluk.
Attur being a major town and surrounded by many commercial units, the people of Attur have been pleading for bifurcating Salem district and creation of new revenue district with Attur as headquarters.
A struggle committee formed for this purpose has already launched various initiatives to attract the attention of the government to their demand.
River Vasishtanadhi, named after Vasishta Munivar, flows across this constituency. The river is polluted because of mixing of effluents of innumerable sago units and sewage at various points. All sections of the society have been demanding the government to renovate and desilt this river.
The government a couple of decades ago proposed a Kallaru Reservoir Scheme for the benefit of farming community. This issue was raised by the local people on various occasions, but the project remains only on paper. Another major issue raised by the local people is the absence of adequate train services.
The local people complain that the municipalities of Edappadi and Attur (reserved) celebrated their golden jubilees last year. While the Chief Minister Jayalalithaa sanctioned Rs. 25 crore as special fund for development works for Edappadi Municipality, such a gesture was not extended to Attur Municipality. This was despite the ruling party men and various associations making repeated pleas.
Mr. Arthanari says that the ruling party did not do anything for solving the long time demands of setting up sugar factory, government arts college, industries etc. No development works were implemented in the constituency in the last five years.
The AIADMK cadre claim that seven new bridges were constructed in the last five years. Four PHCs were upgraded and converted into 30-bed hospitals at an outlay of Rs. 4 crore. The government constructed overhead water tanks spending Rs. 14 crore in Narasingapuram municipal limits, and a new building for maternity ward at the Attur GH.
The PMK due to the presence of a large number of Vanniyar community people, too, is making a brave effort to reach the voters. The party founder Dr. S. Ramadoss addressed a few meetings in the constituency.
