Will use my experience to create jobs and upskill youth: Sarathbabu Elumalai, MNM, Alandur MLA candidate

by March 29, 2021 Governance
Citizen Matters Chennai interviews Sarathbabu Elumalai, the MLA candidate from Alandur, on his plans for the constituency; the MNM candidate also speaks of the life lessons he hopes will come in handy.

Sarathbabu Elumalai is contesting his third election over the last decade. Having cut his teeth in the food business as an entrepreneur, his interest in politics came from a realisation that systemic changes can only be effected through political power and engagement. 

He is contesting from the Alandur constituency as a candidate of Makkal Needhi Maiam. MNM is one of the newer political parties in the fray, having been founded by actor-politician Kamal Haasan in 2018. The party’s anti-corruption stance is its key plank, promising to provide an alternative to the major Dravidian parties which have been in power in the state. 

Alandur is a hotly contested constituency, famous for having been a stronghold of MGR. (Representative Image)

Sarathbabu has started his campaign in Alandur, reaching out to voters across the constituency to listen to their grievances. With his entrepreneurial experience, he hopes to guide youth towards better job prospects. Revamping civic infrastructure, helping ease traffic woes and a reduction in property tax are some of his promises. 

Read more: Why does actor Rajinikanth pay less tax than Nagarajan of Nanganallur?

In an interview with Citizen Matters, he spoke candidly about his reasons for foraying into politics, how this contest is different from his previous attempts and his time on the campaign trail. 

Watch the full interview here:

Also read:

Sections:

About Aruna Natarajan

Aruna is a freelance writer and former Associate Editor at Citizen Matters. She has a BA in Economics and a PG Diploma in Journalism. She has also worked in a think-tank on waste management policy and with a non-profit in sport for development. She writes on civic issues, governance, waste, commute and urban policy. She tweets at @aruna_n29.
Read more by Aruna Natarajan

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Similar Story

Building trust and transparency: How to protect stakeholders in apartment associations

by March 12, 2025 Governance
Part 3 of this series explores ways to settle disputes effectively and to ensure transparency and accountability.

In the first part of this series, we explored the legal and practical challenges faced by apartment owners and associations and the need for clarity about the legislations that govern apartment ownership in Karnataka. Part 2 focused on frequently asked questions about the registration of apartment associations and took a closer look at the regulatory landscape in the State. Effective management of apartment associations is critical to ensure the smooth functioning of residential communities. However, disputes over maintenance charges, redevelopment processes, financial mismanagement and compliance with legal norms often create conflicts between stakeholders. Part 3 of our series on apartment…

Continue reading

Similar Story

Why clean air funds have been stalled, even as Bengaluru air worsens

by March 11, 2025 Governance
NCAP funds worth over 250 crores lie unutilised, while Bengaluru's air quality steadily worsens. Now the funds have been stalled. What’s behind it all?

Bengaluru’s air quality has been seriously worsening post COVID. The annual levels of PM10 saw a decline between 2018 and 2021, but has been slowly increasing since then. Government authorities say that the air quality in Bengaluru is better compared to other cities. But while the PM2.5 levels may conform to the national standards, according to a Greenpeace report it is still four to nine times higher than WHO standards. There is thus a huge need for improvement. The city, however, has used very little of the clean air funds received under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). Also non-utilisation…

Continue reading