In Pollachi, long-standing demands of coconut and allied industries, merging of Pollachi railway station wth the Salem Railway Division and establishment of cold storage facilities are among the major issues once again in the spotlight ahead of the polls.

In the fray are four contenders: sitting MLA Pollachi V. Jayaraman of the AIADMK, K. Nithyanandan of the Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi (KMDK), N. Senthilkumar of the Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) and G. Ramanathan of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

The constituency, with its semi urban and agrarian economy, hasn’t seen much development. Industries in coir and coconut continue to struggle, with their decade-old demands on pricing unmet. Fluctuating prices of tender coconuts, coir and its value-addition industries, copra procurement at revised rates and neera tapping cry for attention.

Cold storage facilities at Kinathukkadavu, Thondamuthur and Alandurai remain poll promises, despite their being a long-standing demand. The Pollachi railway station, currently a part of the Palakkad Division, awaits merger with the Salem Railway Division. “They continue to be promises of the candidates in this election, too,” says K.V. Ramakrishnan, a farmer.

Bringing water to Kodavadi lake from PAP canal, an animal husbandry clinic at Anaimalai and a coir-rope manufacturing unit, too, remain mere promises. K. Venugopal, another farmer, points out that augmenting water flow under the Parambikulam–Aliyar Project has been a promise in elections after elections.

The constituency still awaits a government polytechnic institute and a government arts and science college, a long-standing demand.

Who won and when

The Congress won the election in 1952, 1957 and 1962. Industrialist the late N. Mahalingam was one of the winners. As for the DMK, the Dravidian major won the election in 1967, 1971 and 1996. The AIADMK won the seat 10 times; the incumbent MLA contested five times and won in four elections.

The DMK is using the sex scandal that rocked the coconut town in its campaign against the AIADMK, whereas the AIADMK is harping on anti-incumbency and the lack of development.

Apart from the new bus stand and the Coimbatore–Palani bypass road, which is expected to reduce traffic congestion in Pollachi town, the ruling DMK has little to boast about in the coconut town. Moreover, the DMK cadre are apparently upset over the seat having gone to an ally. This has resulted in many of them not actively taking part in campaigns.

The constituency has a substantial population of Kongu Velala Gounder, Chettiar, Mudaliar, Naicker, Brahmin, Thevar and Arundadhiyar communities. The Kongu Velala Gounder and Chettiar votes are the deciding factor in the poll outcome.