By-poll promises have many things in common

The manifestos of both the groups make similar promises like water supply, free flow of traffic, flyovers at level crossings and removal of garbage from the area. However, the tall claims have left the residents wondering how the winner will be able to keep the promises, when even the late chief minister J Jayalalithaa was unable to fulfil the poll promises she made during the 2016 Assembly elections. 

AIADMK (A) candidate TTV Dinakaran promised 57,000 houses, subject to land availability, 10 mobile hospitals, 10 polyclinics, gyms and soft skill training for youth in his manifesto, while MAD Peravai’s secretary and candidate Deepa Jayakumar promised education loans, IAS exam coaching, increasing local fishing harbour area, provision of subsidised fishing nets and equipment. Whereas, the AIADMK (PTA) scores over TTV Dinakaran stating that it would complete the 11 promises made by Jayalalithaa. But, Dinakaran’s manifesto has no reference to these. 

On the contrary, the DMK has not yet released its manifesto, but has intensified its campaign in nook and corner of the segment. The key promises of all the parties in fray are easing traffic congestion and ending the long wait at level crossings. 

Lingaraj (40) of Ezhilnagar said “We wait for several hours at level crossings. Umpteen petitions demanding overbridges were sent and promises made, but none was kept.”

In this connection, DMK candidate Maruthu Ganesh said, “arrangements will be made to ensure that goods trains – no suburban or express services pass through the track in this area – operate only between 10 pm and 6 am so that public are not affected.” Asked about this railway officials explained, “as it concerns goods trains going to sidings, it is possible to change the timings, but only if the state government makes an official request. An appeal by an MLA alone will not move things.”

Another constant refrain is about the smouldering garbage dump yard which creates a noxious odour and causes health problems. Asked whether it could be moved out, Greater Chennai Corporation officials said “Plans are afoot to generate electricity from the waste, but might be some time before it becomes a reality.” But by then the local MLA’s period would get over and it would be one more unfulfilled promise.

“Easing traffic congestion will be a tough challenge as all roads are only two lanes,” officials said. “But what adds to the congestion is the failure on the part of public in adhering to road rules,” they added. 

On sewage and oil mixing with drinking water “official apathy is the real reason” claims Bhagirathi a housewife. 

“Can’t the government take steps to overcome this without making it an election issue? she demands. “Officials will understand what we go through daily only if they are forced to live here,” she adds.  

However, only the OPS faction seems to have exercised their minds on their manifesto. While Dinakaran’s main plank is construction of 57,000 houses in the area, the candidate of his rival group plans to set up a technical park where downstream units would be set up to handle cracker units splitting up petroleum crude into its constituents is clearly a project which the area needs and will also generate employment. 

The OPS group’s promise of a Rs 50,000 crore Amma technical park which will generate jobs is more in keeping with what the area needs. 

In a first in India, the OPS faction promises a computer-connected mobile MLA’s office which would give the status of petitions received and disposed via mobile phones, former minister K Pandiarajan told the media. The concept will prove its worth only when it becomes a reality as nobody has tried this method so far. 

While Deepa promises education loans and IAS coaching, the latter might be a tough act to follow as the North Chennai locality is more job oriented.

An AIADMK leader from North Chennai on Thursday lodged a complaint against E Madhusudhanan, the OPS faction candidate at R K Nagar and his wife Jeeva, alleging that he had forged government documents, including election ID cards and managed to obtain a government Housing Board flat at Kodambakkam. A R Pazhani, the complainant produced the document copies to prove that they were forged and alleged that Madhusudhanan created fake documents in the name of a non-existent person, C Vijayalakshmi and got the property registered in her name, the complainant alleged.