Like any other agrarian belt, the constituency is bogged down by the problems relating to the cultivation of paddy, cereals, and other crops. Some of the farmers feel that the potential for horticulture crops such as banana and betelvine has not been fully tapped.

In the recent past, an attempt was made to encourage banana cultivation with the establishment of a cold storage-cum-ripening chamber of 100-tonne capacity at Mannarsamudram near Thiruvaiyaru in 2017. To reduce the dependence on grid power, this unit was conceived and set up as a solar-assisted cold storage facility by the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchi (NIT-T), with the support of the National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management, Thanjavur (formerly Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology, Thanjavur).

However, the facility has been largely underutilised though during the peak harvest season, prices plummet and put the banana growers at the mercy of middlemen.

Holding the authorities responsible for the debacle, V. Jeevakumar of CPI(M)-affiliated Agriculture Labour Union, said cold storage-cum-ripening or pure cold storage facilities were the need of the hour in this region where banana cultivation, was taken up in about 3,000 hectares. Sensitisation of banana cultivators would have avoided wastage of public funds, he said.

Another attempt at promotion of inter-cropping of banana in palm groves by Horticulture Department at Nadupadugai, Vadugakudi, Thulsendra Maharajapuram, Kaduveli, and other hamlets failed to pick up, said Sugumaran of Nadupadugai.

Similarly, the cultivation of betelvine, covered on 80 to 100 hectares in this constituency, was yet to get proper assistance from the officials, says Jebaraj of Nadupadugai.

“While we are happy to note that GI tag had been provided to ‘Kumbakonam Vettrilai’, betel leaves cultivators are left to fend for themselves in both financial and marketing aspects,” he said.

As far as the other basic requirements of people, such as public transportation and civic amenities, the electors did not experience great difficulties except during severe drought periods where they could feel the pinch of water shortage, particularly for their cattle.

Welcoming the formation of the ring road on the outskirts of Thiruvaiyaru, Srinivasan, a resident, said traffic jam near the bus stand continued all buses — be it towards Ariyalur or Kumbakonam — were operated through the town.

On the political front, the DMK won the seat seven times since 1971 elections. This time, the party has renominated MLA Durai Chandrasekaran and its arch rival AIADMK-led NDA has fielded V. Karthikeyan of Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, who secured around 37,000 votes in his favour in the 2021 Assembly elections.