ELECTIONS

At Citizen Matters, we review the promises made in the respective electoral manifestos by all four leading electoral parties, namely, the Shiv Sena (SS), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) ahead of the BMC elections in February 2022.  We review whether these promises made by them have been delivered, and where Mumbai currently stands on these issues. To kick start the series, we look at the promises made on the issue of providing clean and safe water supply.   Water requirement in Mumbai  Mumbai currently provides 188 litres per capita per…

Translated by Sandhya Raju from the original Tamil Press Release by GCC Chennai District Election Officer and Chennai Corporation Commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi jointly released the draft electoral poll list for Chennai, in the presence of the party representatives, earlier this week. The electoral list includes eligible voters from the 16 constituencies, as of January 1st, 2022. This list is available at 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 13 zonal offices for public view. The public has been requested to check the draft list for addition, modification or deletion. First-time voters whose names have still not been included or who…

இந்திய தேர்தல் ஆணையத்தின் உத்தரவின்படி, சென்னை மாவட்டத்தில் உள்ளடக்கிய 16 சட்டமன்ற தொகுதிகளுக்கான வரைவு வாக்காளர் பட்டியலை மாவட்ட தேர்தல் அலுவலர் / அரசு முதன்மை செயலாளர் / பெருநகர சென்னை மாநகராட்சி ஆணையாளர் திரு. ககன்தீப் சிங் பேடி, இ.ஆ.ப., அவர்கள் இன்று (01.11.2021) ரிப்பன் மாளிகை கூட்டரங்கில் அனைத்து கட்சி பிரமுகர்கள் முன்னிலையில் வெளியிட்டார். இந்திய தேர்தல் ஆணையத்தின் உத்தரவின்படி சென்னை மாவட்டத்தில் உள்ளடக்கிய 16 சட்டமன்றத் தொகுதிகளுக்கான வாக்காளர் பட்டியல் 01.01.2022- ஆம் தேதியினை தகுதி ஏற்படுத்தும் நாளாகக் கொண்டு 2022-ஆம் ஆண்டின் சிறப்பு சுருக்க முறை திருத்தம் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டு வருகிறது. இச்சுருக்க முறை திருத்தம் தொடர்பாக வரைவு வாக்காளர் பட்டியல் இன்று 01.11.2021 வெளியிடப்படுகிறது. மேற்படி வரைவு வாக்காளர் பட்டியல் பெருநகர சென்னை மாநகராட்சி மண்டல அலுவலகங்கள் 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 13 மற்றும் வாக்குச்சாவடி மையங்களிலும் பொதுமக்களின் பார்வைக்கு வைக்கப்படும்.…

With less than five months for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election in February 2022, political workers from across parties face uncertainties. It is unclear which section of the local population will be able to vote for them, causing confusion on the ground as citizens await clearance from Maharashtra’s State Election Commission. Why are constituencies being redrawn now?  Electoral constituencies or electoral wards are altered according to changes in sizes of local populations, to ensure equal representation and a fair division of geographical areas so that no political party has an advantage. “Each corporator has an average population of around…

With the announcement of the results of the state assembly elections 2021, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has returned to power in Tamil Nadu after a gap of ten years. The DMK continues its stronghold over many parts of Chennai, even reclaiming constituencies such as Mylapore where it had not won in two decades.However, elections results are just a starting point for citizens, not an end. We must hold our elected representatives accountable throughout their tenure. Who is your new MLA? What are his credentials? What are the issues he needs to address? Here is a list of all the winners…

The recent TN Assembly Elections saw the lowest voter turnout in the state in the past three elections. Chennai’s overall voter turnout stood at 59.06%, with only four constituencies registering turnout higher than 60%.What could explain the low turnout is that many eligible voters chose to sit it out on polling day and also that the inaccuracies in the voter rolls contributed to the issue. There have been instances of unexplained deletion of names of voters who found themselves unable to exercise their franchise in the assembly elections. Names of entire families who voted as recently as the Lok Sabha…

On April 6th, a humid day, Zaitoon Begum, a 87-year-old resident of Kottivakkam went to the nearby polling station to cast her vote. Presently a Sholinganallur constituent, Zaitoon Begum has been voting for more than six decades now — she voted first at the then Madras Presidency.  Zaitoon Begum's polling experience was smooth — social distancing was maintained at the booth, masks and gloves were mandated for all voters. But she is still a little disappointed, having had to visit the polling booth at a time when COVID infections are rising across Chennai. “Given the circumstances, the ballot box should…

The much anticipated Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2021 is here. The political landscape of the state has undergone drastic changes since the last election, with both major parties losing their leaders in M Karunanidhi and J Jayalalitha. New entrants such as Kamal Hassan's Makkal Needhi Maiam have found their footing in the scene. The Bharatiya Janata Party is hoping to make inroads in the state with a popular ally. TTV Dhinakaran's Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam attempts draw voters away from the ruling Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Friends have turned foes and foes have turned allies as parties attempt to form…

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.  Representative image. 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…

Virugambakkam constituency was formed in 2009 after merging parts of Villivakkam and Alandur constituencies. Located between the Coovum and Adyar River, some of the areas that form the constituency are M.G.R Nagar, Jafferkhanpet, K.K. Nagar, Nesapakkam, Saligramam and Rani Anna Nagar.  Koyambedu, the largest market for perishable goods in Asia, is one of the important landmarks in Virugambakkam constituency. The Koyambedu Market Management Committee is collaborating with Care Earth Trust NGO to undertake greening activities within the market complex. The NGO plans to create a small tree park. Besides prominent film artists, politicians and entrepreneurs residing here, there are a…