Reaching voters in the hilly regions of the Bhavanisagar Assembly constituency remains a challenging exercise for political parties, involving long travel hours, difficult terrain and language barriers.

Of the 2,37,613 electors in the Bhavanisagar (R) constituency, 64,721 are located in the hills of Thalavadi (47,630 electors) and Kadambur (17,091 electors). Despite the time and cost involved, parties continue to campaign in these remote pockets to ensure that voters are not left out of the electoral process.

Language poses a significant challenge in Thalavadi, where nearly two-thirds of the electorate is Kannada-speaking. Campaign materials are printed in both Tamil and Kannada. While younger voters are conversant in both languages, many elderly residents are familiar only with Kannada. “Since the candidate cannot communicate in Kannada, local functionaries convey the message and seek votes,” said S. Mohan Kumar, campaigning for CPI candidate P.L. Sundaram.

The Thalavadi hills share a border with Karnataka, and a substantial portion falls under the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve. Large tracts of reserved forest, limited transport facilities and scattered habitations make access difficult and time-consuming.

Reaching remote tribal hamlets is particularly challenging. Malliamman Durgham in the Kadambur hills lacks road connectivity, and it takes over three hours to reach the village through rough forest terrain in a pickup vehicle. Similarly, Makkampalayam can be accessed only by traversing a 12-km forest track. As a result, candidates often skip these remote areas, leaving local functionaries to canvas for votes. In several such habitations, poor mobile connectivity further hampers coordination during campaign visits.

In many interior pockets, owing to dispersed populations, parties rely on small group interactions or gatherings at specific locations. Local cadres, familiar with the terrain and residents, play a crucial role in mobilising voters and conveying campaign messages.

Campaigning in the hills is considerably slower compared to the plains. While parties can cover 10,000 to 15,000 voters a day in the plains, they reach fewer than 7,000 in the hilly regions. “Expenditure is also higher during campaigning in these areas,” a party functionary said, citing transportation and logistical costs.

Leaders plan their visits carefully, factoring in weather conditions, forest movement restrictions and the availability of vehicles suited for rough terrain. In some areas, campaign teams begin early to ensure they return before nightfall.

Mr. Sundaram is scheduled to tour the hilly areas for four days next week as part of efforts to reach voters in remote regions. Other political parties, including those in the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance, are planning at least two days of campaigning in key areas such as Thalavadi, Hasanur and Kadambur.

Key issues flagged by voters in the hill areas include the need to mitigate man-animal conflict, expedite compensation for crop damage and loss of human lives, ensure regular drinking water supply by drawing water from River Moyar, and improve livelihoods by promoting tourism and value addition of agricultural produce.