It is a constituency with a large rural population dependent on agriculture but diminishing water resources over the years has turned into a major problem for Gingee.

This predominantly agrarian segment, known for the famed Gingee Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been a stronghold of the DMK and the party had won the seat in nine out of 16 elections held so far. The PMK has just won once in 2011.

A Dravidian veteran Gingee N. Ramachandiran, a heavyweight in the DMK in the early 1980s and 1990s and secretary of the erstwhile South Arcot district had won the seat in the 1977, 1980 and 1989 elections.

The AIADMK won the seat for the first time in the 2001 election while the PMK wrested the seat from the DMK in the 2011 elections. This time the constituency is headed for a two-cornered contest between the DMK and the PMK.

While former Minister and sitting DMK MLA Gingee K.S. Masthan is in the fray, the PMK has fielded former MLA A. Ganesh Kumar. Mr. Masthan won the seat in the 2016 and 2021 elections and was the Minister for Minorities Welfare and Non-Resident Tamils Welfare. However, Mr. Masthan lost his Minister post in 2024.

Though Mr. Masthan has been instrumental in bringing a Government Arts College, there has been a discernible opposition within the party over his style of functioning. However, he is banking on a host of factors including alliance strength and the votes of minorities.

Gingee has rich cultural and historical significance and is also known for the famous Melmalayanur Angalamman Temple, ancient Jain caves and rock-cut beds. Though the constituency is located close to Vellore and Tiruvannamalai, it remains backward and residents demand better infrastructure including wider roads and better railway access.

Unfulfilled demand

The demand for a new railway line between Tindivanam and Tiruvannamalai via Gingee (71 km), has remained primarily unfulfilled for several years due to delay in land acquisition. While the Centre has said that the project was a non-starter because the Tamil Nadu government had not begun land acquisition, the latter blamed the Centre for not sanctioning funds.

The Members of Parliament from both Villupuram and Tiruvannamalai have not shown interest in expediting the project, say residents. “Though Gingee Fort has been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2025, the sprawling premises was still found to be lacking in basic amenities for visitors. The State government should examine the feasibility of establishing a rope car facility on the premises to help visitors reach the hillocks. The Fort also lacks basic amenities, including drinking water and public toilets,” said R. Kothandaraman, a resident.

There are no job opportunities in the region for educated youth who are forced to move to Vellore and Bengaluru in search of greener pastures. The declaration of Pakkamalai and Gangavaram hills, a biodiversity rich area near Gingee, encompassing over 7,000 hectares into a wildlife sanctuary is also another long-time demand.