All eyes on Kongu region ahead of Tamil Nadu assembly polls

Western Tamil Nadu has long been one of the most difficult regions for DMK. But c ister M K wants to alter pattern of poor show in the we ern region through a mix of de velopment politics, caste out reach, welfare delivery, and strategic deployment of leaders.

DMK has pushed multicrore projects such as Periyar Library and Semmozhi Poonga in Coimbatore and surroundin districts. While Kongunadu Ma kal Desiya Katchi was an ally in too, DMK has cultivated ties w other outfit, Kongu Ilaignar Peravai, to reach out to gounders who form the numercially and politically influential community. Above all, Stalin has shifted former minister V Senthilbalaji from Karur to Coimbatore.




Yet AIADMK continues to hold a natural advantage in the region. Party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami is from western Tamil Nadu and belongs to the gounder community. His party has influential leaders such as S P Velumani, P Thangamani and K P Munusamy in almost all the western districts. In addition, AIADMK has roped in BJP and PMK. While BJP has considerable influence in Coimbatore and adjoining districts, PMK’s vanniyar base is spread across Salem, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri, giving the alliance an advantage.

“In Coimbatore, Tiruppur, and the Nilgiris, EPS has tasked former minister S P Velumani with securing victory in all 21 assembly constituencies,” said an AIADMK functionary. EPS feels that AIADMK regimes in the past have delivered development projects, especially flyovers and drinking water schemes, that would help secure votes, and it was these projects that helped AIADMK get 41 of the 57 seats in the eight districts of the region, said an AIADMK functionary. But the contest is no longer one sided.

DMK has attempted to neutralise the caste factor by fielding Senthilbalaji. In Coimbatore city, where the population is more diverse, DMK feels the battle will depend on governance and welfare. “We have brought Periyar Knowledge Centre and Semmozhi Poonga to the city. An international cricket stadium is down the pipeline,” said Senthilbalaji.DMK is also banking on the support of arunthathiyars, who are spread across the western region. Stalin has fielded a 26-year-old arunthathiyar doctor to take on union minister L Murugan at Avinashi.

In Salem, AIADMK seems to have an edge as the district is the native of EPS. Beyond these two districts, the political scene in the rest of western Tamil Nadu remains complex. TVK’s prospects remain uncertain. The party has generated interest among youth, students, and politically unaffiliated urban voters, thanks to Vijay’s popularity. Former AIADMK leader K A Sengottaiyan’s entry into TVK has given the party traction in pockets of Erode.

Its general secretary Arun Raj is also in the fray in Tiruchengode. But the party still lacks a robust local machinery. NTK faces a different limitation. It may influence margins and split votes, but may not emerge as a principal contender, say political observers.