City: Chennai

To view map, see: http://bl.ocks.org/d/ef443c75b51c94ad2357832e66205282 The first Assembly Election of this newly formed constituency was held in 2011. Velachery was carved out of Tambaram constituency as part of the delimitation process in 2008. AIADMK’s M.K. Ashok was the first MLA of Velachery, which is one of the largest constituencies in Chennai. There are over 2.96 lakh voters from Thiruvanmiyur, Adyar,  Adyar,  Alandur, Pallikaranai, Perungudi and Velachery. Candidates Munusamy (AIADMK) V.N. Rajan (DMDK) Vagai Chandarasekar (DMK) Sritharan (BJP) Vinobha Bhoopathi (PMK) Chandrasekharan (NTK) A Chanderan (Makkal Manadu Katchi) Selva Kumar (Gandhiyan Peoples’ Party) Independent Raja Krishnamoorthy ‘Kitty’ Prabhu Sundaram Eswaran Shanta Kumar…

To view map, see: http://bl.ocks.org/d/482ec85469589d6e660bd8945e6d6ba0. Royapuram constituency which lies in North Chennai has over 1.86 lakh voters from areas including Basin Bridge, Singara Garden, Royapuram, Narayanappa garden, and Sanjeevarayanpet. Earlier a stronghold of DMK, AIADMK is in power here since 2001. This constituency has a large concentration of  the Anglo Indian community. Candidates Jayakumar D (AIADMK) Jemeela M.R. (BJP) Rubalingam K. (BSP) Perumal T.S. (PMK) Anandha Raj B. (NTK) Manohar R. (INC) Biju Chacko (TMC(M)) Kandhasamy R. (SHS) P. Parangusam (Labour Party (Secular)) Syed Rafi Basha H. (Social Democratic Party of India) Independent Dhanasekaran G. Ganeshprabhu P. Purushothaman P.P. Rajaraman N.…

To view map, see: http://bl.ocks.org/d/e2e6aeaae37a9ed7e58a2f13c995a700 Villivakkam, once the largest Assembly Constituency in Chennai, now has over 2.52 lakh voters from Viduthalai Guruswamy Nagar (South) , Ayanavaram, Nagammaiyar Nagar (South), Panneerselvam Nagar, Villivakkam (North) and Villivakkam (South) . After the delimitation in 2008, Kolathur, Madhavaram, Ambattur, Maduravoyal, and Virugambakkam were carved out from it, while parts of Purasawalkam were added to make the constituency in its present form. Before delimitation, the constituency has seen DMK, AIADMK, CPI (M), TMC(M), and INC in power. Candidates Raju  (AIADMK) Ranganathan (DMK) Subramanian (PMK) Jaishankar (BJP) Palanivel (BSP) Pandiyan (DMDK)  K.M. Sucharitha (YSP) Vagai Venthan…

In the 2014 general election, close to 6 lakh voters in Tamil Nadu chose ‘None of the Above’ option on the ballot machines. So all in all, the people who opted for NOTA was 1.4 per cent of the total number of votes cast. NOTA was introduced for the first time in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in last general election. The number of NOTA votes cast in Tamil Nadu just reflected the citizens frustration over the political parties and candidates. The concept of NOTA was first introduced in October 2013, following the Supreme Court’s order to the Election Commission of…

To view map, see: http://bl.ocks.org/d/699b1c353c5095261fea5b63a95fbc43 As the election campaigns draw to an end, top leaders of all parties are taking out road shows and marathon trips across Chennai. While J. Jayalalitha was here last Wednesday as part of her 16-constituency campaign in Chennai, DMK leader M.K. Stalin was on a road show, even travelling on foot in some localities. Harbour is marked in the political history of Tamil Nadu for electing DMK leader M. Karunanidhi in the 1991 Assembly Elections held immediately after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. DMK won only two seats in that election, while AIADMK in alliance with…

To view map, see: http://bl.ocks.org/d/b945adb8f414e2ea93c939ae348733d1 Egmore, a reserved constituency, has had DMK MLAs since 1967 except in two assembly elections. In 1980, Congress came to power here, and DMDK was elected in 2011. This constituency has always disappointed the AIADMK. There is an influential section of voters belonging to minority communities and North Indians in this constituency. Egmore is known for its old landmark buildings, busy railway hub, and automobile spare parts market.It also has the largest cluster of slum tenements in the city. The constituency  comprises Dr.Besant Nagar, Thattankulam, Choolai, Park Town, Purasawalkam, Gangadeeswarar Koil, Kilpauk South, Anbazhagan Nagar,…

To view the map, see: http://bl.ocks.org/anonymous/raw/2ec806b5c3aef70e96277352ff4a6c83 Thousand lights, a high-profile constituency in Central Chennai, has been a stronghold of the DMK with the party coming to power in the constituency in seven out of eleven  assembly elections. DMK leader M.K. Stalin was the MLA here from 1996-2011. AIADMK’s B. Valarmathi won by a margin of  8,000 votes from here in 2011. Thousand Lights or Aayiram Vilakku constituency comprises Periyar Nagar (North), Periyar Nagar(South), Nungambakkam, Ko-Si-Mani Nagar, Nakkeerar Nagar, Thousand Lights, Azhagiri Nagar, Royapettah, Teynampet, Sathiyamoorthy Nagar, Vadapalani (East) and Kalaivanar Nagar. Candidates Independent candidates Valarmathi B (AIADMK) Selvam Ku. Ka (DMK)…

When elections come around, all of us become political pundits with opinions and lamentations. But here is an unsentimental, practical look at things on the ground. What politicians and political parties think of us urban middle/upper middle class people: They look at us as apathetic at best and cynical at worst. So they don't feel the need to engage with us because we won't be a part of any political base that they can build on. What we think of politicians and political parties: Ineffective at best and corrupt at worst. It doesn't matter who comes to power because nothing will…

To view the map, see: http://bl.ocks.org/anonymous/raw/66009e4011c6440294b90eb5a749ef79/ Mylapore, one of the oldest residential settlements in Chennai, lies in the southern part of Chennai. It was one of the most severely affected areas during the December floods. According to reports, the AIADMK has denied tickets to the sitting MLA R. Rajalakshmi, apprehensive of the possibility of anti-incumbency factors at work. AIADMK has been in power in the constituency since 2006. There are 2,57,032 registered voters in the constituency. The Mylapore constituency comprises Bharathidasan Nagar (Chennai Corporation Division 94) Vivekanandapuram (96 ), Alwarpet – North (115), Alwarpet – South (116 ), Bhemmannapet (142…

To view the map, see: http://bl.ocks.org/anonymous/raw/147b338b0167ad2ac94a970c15456b33 Perambur, which was earlier a reserved constituency, is one of the biggest Assembly constituencies in Chennai. From 1971-91, the DMK was in power here. The AIADMK came to power in 1991, and the DMK regained the constituency in 1996. Since 2001, the CPM has been in power here.   There are 2,88,901 registered voters in Perambur. The Perambur constituency includes Kodungaiyur (West), Kodungaiyur (East), Vysarpadi (South), Vysarpadi (North), Perambur (North), Perambur (East) and Elango Nagar. Perambur is an important railway hub. It houses the Integrated Coach Factory and has a higher percentage of blue-collar…