Located on Thanjavur-Mayiladuthurai border, Thiruvidaimarudur is a reserved Assembly constituency. While the traditional livelihood of voters here is farming and weaving, the younger generation apppears disinclined to pursue them.

Agriculture is the core activity in this old delta region, and handloom weaving too has thrived here for generations. Thirubhuvanam, located in this constituency, is well-known for its one-side border filature silk sarees, while weaving of cotton dhoti flourished at nearby Thugili, a diminutive settlement, until a few centuries ago.

“After powerloom dhoti began to flood the market, the handloom variety gave way to silk saree weaving,” said Ramamurthy, a septuagenarian, who was a farmer-cum-weaver.

In recent years, agriculture has turned more and more unpredictable and handloom weaving too has gone the same way. The younger generation has started looking for greener pastures in other sectors. “We may be the last generation of handloom weavers in the region,” rued Saraswathi of Thugili

She was trained in saree weaving from her school days, doubling as a farmhand occasionally.

A few weavers who migrated to nearby towns such as Mayiladuthurai, however, have managed to keep the clacking sound alive in Thugili. The handloom silk sarees are marketed by cooperative societies such as Thirubhuvanam Silk Handloom Weavers’ Cooperative Production and Sale Society (Thico Silks), which is located at Thirubhuvanam.

“We are looking up to policy-makers to chalk out suitable schemes to help us achieve sustainability”, said Baskar, a progressive farmer of Thiruppanandal.

On the civic front. the constituency enjoys a fairly dependable infrastructure facilities and road connectivity with important towns and tourist spots such as Kumbakonam, Mayiladuthurai, Jayankondam and Nannilam. But, a public transport system to commute to interior rural pockets and veterinary medical assistance are some of the issues that need to be improved, according to voters.

The constituency, which falls under reserved category, has remained a DMK bastion with its nominees elected four times since 1991. Govi.Chezhiaan is the sitting MLA, who has been elected from the seat since 2011 and was elevated to the State Cabinet towards the end of his tenure.

While he has been renominated for the seat, the AIADMK has fielded Ilamathi Subramanian, a former MLA who represented the erstwhile Valangaiman Assembly constituency. Naam Tamilar Katchi has renominated M. Divyabharathi, who secured around 6% of the total votes polled in 2021 elections.