Constituency round-up: Pallavaram MLA to contest seat, even as long-standing demands of residents remain unmet

Take a look at the complete candidate list in Pallavaram, constituency details and the issues that voters face.

Nestled between Tambaram and Airport, Pallavaram is a suburb that derives its name from the Pallava settlement. This constituency has several water bodies and Tirusulam hill, tanneries and cosmetics industries. The Grand Southern Trunk (GST) Road that connects Chennai with other districts passes through the constituency.

The locality is known for the Friday shandy which is the only weekly market in the metropolitan city, epitomising the rural Indian ‘bazaar’ culture where one can buy anything under the sun.

Some of the areas that fall under Pallavaram constituency are Chrompet, Pammal, Pozhichalur, Anakaputhur, Tirusulam and Pallavaram.

Representative image.

Votes cast in 2016

  • Total number of voters: 250277 (excluding postal votes)
  • Male Voters: 127815
  • Female voters: 122462
  • Third gender: 0
  • Polling percentage: 61.76%

Read more: Unmet deadlines and delayed work. Know the status of Chennai’s vital projects


Election results 2016

Karunanithi E (DMK) won by a margin of 22,165 votes

CANDIDATEPARTYVOTES
Percentage of votes polled

(As per ECI website)
Karunanithi IDMK112,89144.94
Saraswathi C RAIADMK90,72636.12
Veeralakshmi CMDMK14,0835.61
Gopi AyyasamyBJP11,7814.69
Ventakesan RPMK93393.72
NOTA58232.32
Source: ECI

Incumbent MLA

  • Karunanithi I
  • Party: DMK
  • S/o|D/o|W/o: S Iggnasi
  • Age: 57
  • Address: No.11/5, Thirupur Kumaran Street, Radha Nagar, Chrompet, Chennai 600 044
  • Name Enrolled as Voter: Pallavaram (Tamil Nadu) constituency, at Serial no 752 in Part no. 185
  • Email: ekapallavaram@gmail.com
  • Contact Number: 94440 02029
  • Self Profession: Social service
  • Number of Criminal Cases: 3

Source: I Karunanithi(DMK):Constituency- PALLAVARAM(KANCHEEPURAM) – Affidavit Information of Candidate:

Promises made

  1. Once in three months, special camps will be conducted for hearing and solving grievances. However, voters we reached out to denied having had any such camps.
  2. Construction of roads in Pozhichalur in Ward 38
  3. Replacing the railway level crossing near Radha Nagar with a subway (pending)

Read more: Sandhai ku polama? Friday Pallavaram Bazaar offers flourishing business at the time of mushrooming grocery stores


In the news

In 2019, Subhashree, a 23-year-old techie from Pallavaram, was crushed to death in Pallavaram by a water tanker after a roadside banner fell on her while she was riding. Pallavaram MLA I Karunanithi had lashed out at the ruling party and condemned AIADMK over the incident.


Read more: Banners and hoardings to be back on city streets, much to citizens’ dismay


Candidate list 2021

S. NoNamePartyAgeEducation/OccupationCriminal Cases
1I KarunanithiDravida Munnetra Kazhagam62Real estate/Class 103 pending cases, 0 convicted 
2Rajendran CAll India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam60Agriculture, politician/BA, BLNil
3Senthil KumarMakkal Needhi Maiam43Activist/MCA1 pending case, 0 convicted
4Perumal RIndependent43Driver/Class 10Nil
5Balaji SIndependent41Driver/Class 10Nil
6Kanagaraj AIndependent36Tailor/Class 7Nil
7Bhaskaran PIndependent68Social work/Class 9Nil
8Michael JIndependent50Counsellor/D.ThNil
9Sathyaseelan MLok Jan Sakthi Party68Retired/Class 10Nil
10Ajithkumar RPuthiya Tamilagam29Labourer/Class 8Nil
11Gokulkrishnan STamil Nadu Ilaignar Katchi27Business/Diploma in computer scienceNil
12Sadam HussainIndependent26Salaried/Class 10Nil
13Ramachandran RIndependent28Business/BBANil
14Karthick AIndependent38Driver/Class 5Nil
15Murugesan DDesiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam59Politician/Class 101 pending; 0 convicted
16Sasikumar LakshmipathyNational Democratic Party of South India42Advocate/BA, BLNil
17Sridharan ADravida Murpokku Makkal Katchi64Doctor/MBBS, PhDNil
18Kumar VAnna MGR Dravida Makkal Kazhagam45Business/NANil
19Veeralakshmi KMy India Party32Politician/MANil
20Minishree KanagarajNam Tamilar Katchi36House wife/B.ScNil
21Kumara DossIndependent40Salaried/B.ScNil
22Serma SelvarajDesiya Makkal Sakthi Katchi49Advocate/MA, BLNil

Read more: Search for history threatens Pallavaram homes


Broad issues of the constituency

Pozhichalur residents complain of wastes being burnt regularly by the local body. Pic: Varun Babu
  • The construction of a subway to replace the level crossing near Chrompet railway station in Radha Nagar is a project that was taken up more than a decade ago and still remains incomplete. The sitting MLA had in fact promised to get it done during his 2016 election campaign. “It is a multi-departmental project and it has been eight years since the Southern Railways completed the part of the work allocated to them. However, due to political reasons, the subway has still not been completed,” says David Manohar, an activist from Chrompet.
  • Residents of this constituency have long demanded a merger with the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC). “Several parts of Pallavaram were planned and organised even before the core areas of the city were developed. Residents from parts of Pallavaram constituency pay their taxes to Chennai Corporation. It would be easier to carry out the day-to-day administration here, if the municipality is merged with the larger civic body,” says V Santhanam, a social activist from Pallavaram.
  • Encroachments along water bodies is yet another major problem that people of this constituency face. Nemilichery Lake, Pallavaram Periya Eri and Putheri are some of the lakes situated in Pallavaram constituency. “If all the lakes are restored, dependence on water tankers can be eliminated. The lakes are currently contaminated with sewage,” adds David.

Read more: Flowing water bodies become parched lands: Where did the water go?


  • Residents feel strongly about the need for construction of an overhead walkway at Tirusulam Railway Station. Residents of Tirusulam have been fighting for it for the past 10 years. In the absence of such a facility, people have to cross the tracks to reach the other side of the neighbourhood.
  • In almost all the local bodies that fall under Pallavaram constituency, residents complain of poor waste management. “Solid waste management rules are flouted regularly, garbage is burned day in and day out at Cowl Bazaar in Pozhichalur panchayat,” says K Varun Babu, a resident of Pozhichalur.

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