With 35 per cent votes, ‘populated’ north Tamil Nadu could be poll decider

North Tamil Nadu, comprising Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Vellore, Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai and Cuddalore, which accounts for 35 per cent of Tamil Nadu’s total electoral population of 5.91 crore, will play a key role in deciding the outcome of the Lok Sabha polls as voter distribution continues to change across the state in favour of the north.  

This region will be crucial for political parties focussing on vote share as they command more than 35 per cent of total votes while accounting for less than 25 per cent of the geographical area.  

Chennai has 38 lakh voters, followed by Kancheepuram with 36 lakh and Tiruvallur with 32 lakh voters. Vellore with an electorate of 30 lakh is the fourth largest district while Villupuram with 26 lakh voters is more populated than tier one cities like Madurai and Tirunelveli which accounts for 25 lakh voters. 

“People from southern TN have been migrating towards the north in search of employment. As a result, Lok Sabha constituencies like Theni, Sivagangai and Nagercoil are geographically smaller when compared to the north,” professor Ramu Manivannan, head, department of political science and public administration, Madras University, said. He added that Vellore needs to be bifurcated with Tirupattur as one of the district headquarters.

Over the last decade, the younger population has settled in north TN and the annual inclusion in form 6 is higher there. “Even Cuddalore district supports a voter population of 20 lakh which is higher when compared to districts in delta and southern TN,” said an official of the Public Elections Department.

“Increased urbanisation of Chennai coupled with the growing population in Vellore and non-migrant population in Villupuram and Cuddalore is the reason behind increase in population influx,” political commentator Raveendran Duraisamy said. “The policymakers at the time of delimitation did gross injustice and this must be corrected. There cannot be one constituency with very fewer voters and another overflowing with numbers. I feel bifurcation of districts has been stalled to prevent the number of reserve constituencies,” Duraisamy alleged.