Constituency round-up: Madhavaram voters look forward to regular water supply, sewage connections

A summary of the ground realities in the constituency, the full list of candidates and the detailed profile of the sitting MLA.

Located in North Chennai, Madhavaram constituency was added to Chennai district in 2018. Although the locality falls within the core areas of the city, 50% of Madhavaram has a rustic landscape, dominated by the presence of Aavin milk factory. The residential area around the factories is called Madhavaram Milk Colony with a population of around 5,000. Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University and Madhavaram Botanical Garden are some of the key localities that the neighbourhood is known for.

The Madhavaram Satellite Bus Terminus, located in this constituency, was inaugurated in 2018. Buses bound for Andhra Pradesh originated at this terminus, thereby decongesting the Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT) in Koyambedu.

Some of the areas that fall under Madhavaram Constituency are Puthagaram, Kathirvedu, Surapet, Vadakarai, Athivakkam, Alinjivakkam, Vadaperumbakkum, Vasappur, Manjambakkam, Vellanur, Pothur, Pammadhukulam, VIlangadupakkam, Palavayal and Thiruninravur.

Voters in 2016 (excluding postal votes)

  • Total number of voters in 2016: 267546
  • Male voters: 136338
  • Female voters: 131198
  • Third gender: 10

Election results 2016

Sudharsanam S (DMK) won by a margin of 14,343 votes.

CANDIDATEPARTYVOTESPercentage of votes polled
(As per ECI website)
Sudharsanam SDMK1,22,08245.43
Dakshnamoorthy DAIADMK1,06,82939.76
Eraviraj GPMK142455.3
Kannan A SCPI93833.49
Janakiraman R M RBJP51611.92

Read more: Source segregation in North Chennai up from 20% to more than 30% in just three months: P Akash, RDC North


Incumbent MLA

  • Party: DMK
  • Age: 57
  • Address: Old No.197, New No.261, Baazar Street, Madhavaram Chennai-600060
  • Name Enrolled as Voter: Madhavaram (Tamil Nadu) constituency, at Serial no. 406 in Part no. 38
  • Email: chennainorthdmk@gmail.com
  • Contact Number: 9940016596, 9444016596
  • Self Profession: Advocate
  • Education: MA, BL

In the news

In 2019, the state government increased the MLA Constituency Development Scheme (MLACDS) fund allocation to Rs 3 crore from Rs 2.5 crore. Reacting to it, Sudharsanam spoke about the problem MLAs face in actually spending the fund. He said that they were instructed to spend the funds on providing drinking water supply, repairing roads and such civic work whereas the people of the constituency wanted the funds to be utilised for building community halls, in view of the price fixed by private facilities.

Ahead of the 2021 elections, the DMK rejigged the party districts and reorganised party units for better administration. Among the list, Sudharsanam was named as the person in charge for North East district in Chennai that includes Madhavaram and Thiruvottiyur constituencies.

Omakulam at Madhavaram. Pic: Chennai City Connect

Candidate list and details

S. NoNamePartyAgeEducation/OccupationCriminal cases
1S.SudharsanamDravida Munnetra Kazhagam62Advocate, agriculturist/MA, BLNil
2V MoorthyAll India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam62Politician, business/BANil
3Ramesh KMakkal Needhi Maiam57Business/MBANil
4S.MoorthyIndependent35Employee/ BA PhilosophyNil
5S JayaseelanIndependent38Salaried/Class 12Nil
6S Sathish KumarIndependent36Business/Class 10Nil
7M Vinoth KumarNaadaalum Makkal Katchi32Lawyer/B.Sc, BLNil
8S RamuIndependent51Business/Class 10Nil
9M Nirmal KumarIndependent35Salaried/Class 12Nil
10G RameshIndependent52Artist/NANil
11P Aravind KumarDesiya Makkal Sakthi Katchi36Business/BBANil
12S ArivunithiIndependent40Advocate/B.Sc, LLBNil
13D SudharshananIndependent26Student/BBA, LLBNil
14E SambathShiv Sena40Driver/Class 8Nil
15M YuvarajAnna MGR Dravida Makkal Kalgam49Salaried/Class 8Nil
16A.SakthivelIndependent48Real estate/NANil
17M G BabuIndependent49Politician/MBANil
18R ElumalaiNaam Tamilar Katchi55Lawyer/BA, BLNil
19D.Dhakshnamoorthy Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam45Business/BANil
20S DeepakBahujan Samaj Party31Business/BA, LLBNil

Detailed affidavits for all the candidates can be downloaded here.


Read more: What Manali can teach the rest of Chennai about waste


Key issues in the constituency

Sri Ranga Cooperative Nagar, near Madhavaram-Red Hills Road, comes under Pulli Lyon Panchayat. The locality, which is spread across 35.54 acre, lacks basic civic services and amenities such as proper garbage collection, streetlights, playground, park, burial grounds, bus depots and roads. “In the past five years, the local body failed to allocate funds to develop essential infrastructure facilities. We pooled in funds along with a private company to construct the Ranga Garden Main Road which was in non-motorable condition,” says Shivaprakash MKK, member of Ranga Gardens Residents’ Welfare Association. 

While residents from several localities in Madhavaram have been paying water tax regularly and have piped-water connection, they do not get water supply from the Greater Chennai Corporation.

Although Madhavaram (Zone 3) falls well within the limits of Chennai corporation, only six of the 12 wards in the locality are connected to the underground drainage network. “There is no permanent solution in sight. Water stagnates during every monsoon season,” says D Neelakannan, President, Federation of Madhavaram Resident Welfare Association.

Waterbody protection is a major ask here as there are several lakes in Red Hills and Cholavaram that manage the city’s water needs. “The Retteri Lake, that is spread across 700 acres, can supply 0.3 TMC water if the lake is restored and encroachments are removed. However, very little is done to restore Retteri and Puzhal lakes,” adds Neelakannan.

In late 2020, the Amma Mini Clinic initiative was launched with much pomp. While it has received good reception in other parts of the city, Neelakannan adds that there are only two facilities (one each in ward 26 and 33) in zone 3. “Many here cannot afford private treatment, one clinic in each ward is necessary in the constituency,” says R Raja, a resident. 

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