Perambur is one of the constituencies in the northern part of the city. Much like other localities in North Chennai, it is a constituency primarily dominated by the working class.
Some of the areas that fall under Perambur Constituency are Vyasarpadi, parts of Kodungaiyur, parts of Perambur, Erukkancherry, Chinnandimadam, Lachumiamman Nagar, Kaviarasu Kannadasan Nagar, M.K.B Nagar and New Kamaraj Nagar.
AIADMK candidate Vetrivel was elected as the MLA of Perambur constituency in the 2016 polls with 79,974 votes. Following the death of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, however, the party was split and Vetrivel joined TTV Dhinakaran’s Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) as treasurer. Subsequently, Vetrivel and 17 other MLAs were disqualified for withdrawing support to Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami.
In the by-election conducted in 2019, R D Shekar (DMK) was elected as the MLA of Perambur constituency.
Votes cast (2016)
- Total number of voters: 187906
- Male Voters: 95474
- Female voters: 92432
- Third gender: 0
- Polling percentage: 65.01%
2019 By-election Results
R. D. Shekar won by a margin of 68,023 votes
| CANDIDATE | PARTY | VOTES |
| R. D. Shekar | DMK | 106394 |
| R. S. Raajesh | AIDMK | 38371 |
| U. Priyadarshini | MNM | 20508 |
| S. Merlin Suganthi | NTK | 8611 |
| P. Vetrivel | AMMK | 6281 |
| S.Devi Dasan (Velu) | Pyramid Party of India | 122 |
| J. Mohanraj | Jebamani Janata | 106 |
Source: TN Elections
Incumbent MLA Profile
- Name: R D Shekar
- Party: DMK
- Age: 54
- Criminal cases: Nil
- Education: High School
Read more: Voting in the time of COVID-19: Chennai voters, check out this detailed guide
In the news
While campaigning for the by-elections, the incumbent MLA had promised to shift the dump yard if elected to power. R D Shekar had commented that he could take the matter to bureaucrats and added that he would raise the problem during the Assembly session. However, the promise remains unfulfilled.
Know your candidates this time
| S. No | Name | Party | Age | Education/Occupation | Criminal Cases |
| 1 | Shekar R D | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | 54 | Business/High school | Nil |
| 2 | Dhanapalan N R | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | 69 | Business/M.A | Nil |
| 3 | Ponnusamy A | Makkal Needhi Maiam | 46 | Milk deliver/Class 8 | Nil |
| 4 | Soosai M A | Republican Party of India (Athawale) | 57 | Social worker/Literate | Nil |
| 5 | Merlin Suganthi. S | Naam Tamilar Katchi | 35 | Affidavit not uploaded | Nil |
| 6 | Sathish Kumar S | Independent | 31 | Daily wage/Class 9 | Nil |
| 7 | Sekar P | Independent | 66 | Business/Class 5 | Nil |
| 8 | Parthipan P | Independent | 39 | Advocate/M.L | Nil |
| 9 | Vinothkumar G | Independent | 30 | Driver/Class 8 | Nil |
| 10 | Selvaraj R | Independent | 49 | Daily wage/Class 10 | Nil |
| 11 | Udayakumar S | Independent | 48 | Business/Class 10 | Nil |
| 12 | Vasanthakumar M | Independent | 43 | Real estate/Class 7 | Nil |
| 13 | Rajesh K | Independent | 32 | Driver/Class 5 | Nil |
| 14 | Rajesh Kumar S | Independent | 46 | Business/DEE | Nil |
| 15 | Satheesh J | Independent | 45 | Business/Class 9 | Nil |
| 16 | Saravana Perumal R | Independent | 47 | Self-employed, social activist/B.Tech, MFC | Nil |
| 17 | Prem Anand J | Independent | 32 | Advocate/M.Com, MBA, MSW, BL | Nil |
| 18 | Venkatesh L | Independent | 45 | Small business/Class 12 | Nil |
| 19 | Kadhiravan M | Independent | 53 | Business/Class 12 | Nil |
| 20 | Lakshmi Narayan E | Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam | 48 | Business/Class 9 | 3 pending cases; 0 convictions |
| 21 | Suresh C | Bahujan Samaj Party | 37 | Driver/Class 10 | Nil |
| 22 | Sebastin J | Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) | 44 | Politician/Class 10 | Nil |
Source: ECI. Check the detailed affidavits of candidates here.
Read more: Will visit a ward every day if elected: MNM candidate from Perambur
Key issues of the constituency
As in many other parts of the city, the condition of roads in the Perambur constituency is deplorable. Residents and commuters say that major roads, including Dr Ambedkar Road in Vyasarpadi, Perambur Barracks Road and Perambur High Road, crumble every few years. “The roads are not maintained well, become unmotorable within a few months of re-laying and are difficult to navigate during the monsoons. There appears to be no permanent solution in sight,” says Karan Karki, a writer and novelist based in Vyasarpadi.
The Kodungaiyur dump yard is the elephant in the room in Perambur constituency. It is one of the longest pending demands from North Chennai residents. Residents’ welfare associations in the locality state that none of the past MLAs — whether from the DMK, AIADMK and CPI(M) — fulfilled the promise of shifting the yard.
Read more: Nearly a third of Kodungaiyur residents have difficulty breathing, but no action on waste dump
As several low-income families live near the dump yard, children residing in the proximity of the dump yard end up as child labour working at the site. “At any given time in a day, we can see at least five children picking up bottles, needles, copper items and the likes. Now with online classes, the children are distracted and spend time scouting for petty things in the yard,” noted Karunanithi Nagamuthu, a social activist.
The 3-km length Captain Cotton Canal in Erukkancheri is another pain point. It isthe prime reason behind Vyasarpadi getting flooded during heavy rains. “The outlet of Retteri lake joins with the Canal and carries the sewage generated in localities like Korattur, Kolathur, etc. The civic body does not look beyond desilting once a year. It can be restored and converted into a park,” Karunanithi says.
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