Thoothukudi flood works blow wind in DMK favour

Unemployment is an issue that weighs heavily on the minds of voters in the constituency that has seen development limited to big towns

- GODSON WISELY DASS

As the southern district of Thoothukudi came under an unprecedented deluge in December 2023 that left towns and villages submerged for days, it was impossible to miss the images of the constituency's high profile MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, clad in a salwar kameez, wading through stagnant water to reach affected residents.

While some DMK representatives faced flak for not being with the people during flooding in Chennai and Tirunelveli, in Thoothukudi the party's deputy general secretary led from the front. For this reason, voters and political party workers believe her victory here is certain although many also feel that development is yet to reach all parts of the constituency during her tenure.

The Thoothukudi constituency was formed in 2008 and includes the Assembly segments of Thoothukudi, Tiruchendur, Srivaikuntam, Ottapidaram (reserved), Kovilpatti and Vilathikulam. The DMK won here in 2009 and 2019 (Kanimozhi's maiden outing) while AIADMK won in 2014. The DMK alliance also holds five of the six Assembly constituencies, barring Kovilpatti which elected Kadumbur Raju of the AIADMK in 2021.

Kanimozhi (54), who defeated the NDA candidate Tamilisai Soundarajan (of BJP) by a whopping 3.47 lakh votes in 2019, is facing the AIADMK's R Sivasamy Velumani (42), TMC's SDR Vijayaseelan (51), fielded by the NDA, and NTK's Dr J Rowena Ruth Jane (33). While Kanimozhi, daughter of the late Chief Minister M Karunanidhi is a writer and politician, Velumani is a traditional physician who runs a bone-setting treatment centre. Vijayaseelan is a businessman and Rowena a dentist.