Lok Sabha polls | Lack of jobs and investment plagues the economically backward district of Villupuram

Villupuram Lok Sabha constituency sees fierce rivalry between VCK, PMK, and AIADMK, with economic development and political strategies at play.

The Villupuram Lok Sabha constituency is the only constituency that will witness a straight contest between two fierce rivals — Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and Pattali Makkal Katchi — representing the interests of Scheduled Castes and Vanniyars respectively, and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in the upcoming Lok Sabha election on April 19.

Villupuram, a reserved constituency, is one of the economically backward districts in Tamil Nadu and hopes to attract investments from various industries. While it has decent connectivity and human resource capital, the lack of jobs within the district has resulted in a sizeable population migrating to other States such as Maharashtra in search of livelihood.

While livelihood issues dominate the debate, the bitter political rivalry between the PMK and the VCK in the last decade and a half, which has vitiated the relationship between two major Tamil communities is not likely to result in a close battle as the DMK alliance, of which the VCK is a part, is sitting pretty in the light of a divided opposition.

Last year, the DMK government announced that the SIPCOT industrial park would be set up in Ulundurpet and that a major footwear plant would be set up inside the Ulundurpet SIPCOT park.

 The VCK, contesting on the ‘Pot’ symbol this time, around unlike in 2019 when it contested on the DMK’s ‘Rising Sun’ symbol, is being challenged by the AIADMK and the PMK.

Many local party cadre of the three parties suggest that the real fight is between the PMK and the AIADMK for second place. While PMK’s founder S. Ramadoss hails from the district, the AIADMK hopes to prove that it is the only party which is capable of challenging the coalition of DMK.

The AIADMK bets high on its leader in the area, C. Ve. Shanmugam, and his supporters, to pull off a victory. The local AIADMK leaders appear to be clear about the winning strategy: take away as many votes from PMK and Naam Tamilar Katchi.