The landscape of Krishnarayapuram Assembly constituency in Karur district is dotted with irrigation canals, tanks, and lakes and waterbodies. Located on the banks of the Cauvery, it is here that the Kattalai High Level Canal, New Kattalai High Level Canal, South Bank Canal, and North Bank Canal from Mayanur barrage branch off on either side of the Cauvery. Though the channels carry water for irrigation in Karur, Tiruchi, Thanjavur, and Pudukkottai districts, the benefit eludes farmers of Krishnaryapuram.

The constituency (SC) that extends from Krishnarayapuram and Mayanur in the north to Kadavur in south is primarily agrarian. While a section of villages, particularly in Krishnarayapuram panchayat union, are located on the banks of the Cauvery, the villages and towns in Kadavur panchayat union are located in arid landscape. Despite proximity to the Cauvery, many villages and towns in the constituency face a shortage of drinking water, making it a major poll issue. Voters complain that successive governments and elected representatives had failed to ensure the supply of Cauvery water to the villages and towns.

Too many quarries

A number of stone quarries are being run at Varavanai_, Melapaguthi, Devarmalai, and Manjanaickenpatti. Local people and environmental activists allege wilful violation of rules and regulations in stone quarrying. It has caused depletion of water table besides other environment issues in Kadavur panchayat union.

“Indiscriminate quarrying has hit us hard on various aspects. The groundwater has gone down beyond 1,200 feet. We keep on presenting petitions to the authorities about this [but to no avail],” says P. Vasudevan of Tharagampatti.

Though the constituency is blessed with a system of irrigation canals, farmers complain that there has been no proper mechanism to divert the surplus water to the waterbodies in dry areas of the constituency.

Mayanur is the fountainhead of the ambitious Cauvery-Gundar river linking project. The alignment passes through several villages of the constituency. While a section of farmers complain of slow progress of the scheme, several others flag the issue of discrimination in payment of compensation to farmers, whose lands have been acquired by the State government for implementing the project.

“The entire constituency can be made a fertile land by diverting surplus water from the Cauvery from Mayanur. No sincere attempts have been made for so long to dig canals from Mayanur, thereby carrying water to major tanks from the Cauvery. The Cauvery-Gundar river linking project is making slow progress,” says Mahadhanapuram V. Rajaram, president of Cauvery Irrigation Farmers’ Welfare Association.

Poor water management

The constituency has about 500 tanks. Panjapatti lake, Veerarakkiam, and Kovakulam were among the prominent waterbodies. There were many protests in the past, demanding the State government to link Panjapatti lake, one of the largest in the State, with the Cauvery-Gundar river linking project. However, they are sore that their demands have not been heard by the elected representatives and officials.

“If there are issues in bringing Panjapatti lake under the purview of the Cauvery-Gundar project, the State government should have made an arrangement by digging a canal from Mayanur to Panjapatti to carry surplus water from the Cauvery. There is still a proposal pending on it. However, it is still only on paper,” says S. Vijayan of Valayarpalayam.

While the DMK has fielded C.K. Raja in the constituency, the AIADMK has nominated S. Dhivya, a medical practitioner based in Karur. M. Sathya is the candidate of the TVK and the NTK has fielded V. Sathya. The constituency has been a citadel of the AIADMK since 1971. Of the 12 elections held since 1971, the AIADMK romped home six times and the DMK four times. The Congress won twice. The AIADMK candidates won in 1977, 1989, 1991, 2001, 2011 and 2016. The DMK notched up victories in 1971, 1996, 2006 and 2021. The Congress candidates won in 1980 and 1984. Krishnarayapuram was among the constituencies where the AIADMK candidates fielded by a faction led by former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa won in 1989.

The constituency is dominated by Arunthathiyars and Devendrakula Velalars. Both the DMK and the AIADMK invariably field Devendrakula Velalars in the constituency. Though the constituency is witnessing four-cornered fights, the battle between the DMK and the AIADMK is fierce. Both the candidates are new to the electoral battle. While Mr. Raja has been hand picked by the DMK district secretary V. Senthilbalaji, Dr. Dhivya,’s nomination was recommended by AIADMK district secretary M.R. Vijayabhaskar. The supporters of Mr. Senthilbalaji and Mr. Vijayabhaskar have swung into action to ensure the victory of their respective candidates. They are on a whirlwind tour to seek votes. While Mr. Raja seeks votes by pointing out the welfare schemes of the DMK government, Dr. Dhivya is banking on the perceived anti- incumbency factor and highlights price rise, increase in property tax, water tax and others.