Governance

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…

Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar, a predominantly working class constituency, has had several concerns over poor infrastructure and civic issues for years. Problems around water, sanitation and civic amenities and questions around patta and evictions are key factors that could weigh on the minds of voters as they choose in the upcoming elections. The constituency will see a face-off between DMK and AIADMK, with the incumbent DMK MLA Thayagam Kavi seeking re-election. The assembly constituency includes areas such as Ayanavaram, Otteri, Pulianthope, Pattalam and a part of Perambur. Read more: With elections coming up, civic works gather steam. Are you watching? The incoming…

Alandur constituency has several localities that promise low cost of living. As a result, there is a significant population of lower middle class and economically weaker families in these areas. The other dominant population here is that of software engineers working in the hubs of OMR and ECR. Localities such as Nanganallur are close to these hubs.  Many temples dot the Alandur constituency much like Mylapore. Alandur is a peripheral constituency. Just 4 km from the airport, it also borders another junction of the city and an industrial hub Guindy. St Thomas Mount is the closest railway station. Velachery, another prime…

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…

Elections to Tamil Nadu’s legislative assembly are just a few days away with voting scheduled to take place on April 6th in a single phase. The result will be declared on May 2nd. The highly charged elections promise a neck-to-neck battle between the incumbent All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) founded and presided over by actor-politician Kamal Haasan. The assembly has 234 seats in all, of which Chennai and surrounding districts have 25 seats. In the world’s most populous democratic country that is ours, it is imperative for…

Thiruvottiyur assembly constituency is one of the many that will see the DMK and AIADMK go head to head in the upcoming assembly polls. The constituency has also gained attention due to another candidate, Seeman, the leader of the Naam Tamilar Katchi. The assembly seat has been vacant for over a year due to the death of DMK MLA KPP Samy who had won the seat in 2016.  The constituency includes areas such as Thiruvottiyur, Kathivakkam, Chinnaseekadu, Manali and Ernavur. Fisherfolk form a huge part of the voter base and their issues take centre stage here. Both major political parties…

As a social activist, Siva Elango knows what he has to do to improve the state of urban governance and the quality of life of suburban residents. He dons many hats -- Siva started his career as a journalist and took a plunge into politics when he became the founder-president of Makkal Sakthi Katchi in 2009. He contested in the bye-elections from Bargur and Pennagaram constituencies in 2009 and 2010, respectively. In the 2011 elections, he contested against the former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi in Tiruvarur constituency.  In 2013, Siva gave up politics and founded Satta Panchayat Iyakkam (SPI), a…

Once a village on the outskirts of Chennai, Maduravoyal is now at the centre of attention of political leaders, and clearly on the path to greater commercial development. Yet several infrastructural gaps and project delays bother resident voters, who hope that the new elected government will be able to resolve some of these. Maduravoyal assembly constituency consists of Ayapakkam, Nolambur, Karambakkam, Vanagaram, Ramapuram, Valasaravakkam, Porur, Nerkundram and a few wards of Mogappair and Ambattur. With the country’s largest mofussil bus terminus (at Koyambedu), a large freshwater resource (Porur lake) and an industrial estate that is almost an entire locality in…

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…

Driving licenses that expired during the past year, post COVID, are valid up to March 31, 2021. So, if you need to get your licence renewed and are wondering how to go about it, here is a guide that should help. (Note: The deadline has been extended again, to June 30, 2021) Last month, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) launched an Aadhaar-authentication based contactless services that can be used to renew a driving license online without having to visit an RTO office. If one is able to do this, it certainly is the best option. However, if…