Villupuram a challenge to VCK, prestige battle for PMK

Villupuram, which has a total electorate of 14.27 lakh voters, is a prestigious battle for the PMK. So, the clash in this segment will be on the ‘sure watch’ list of political observers. Also, this segment is of top priority to the PMK as the hometown of Ramadoss comes under this constituency.

While the VCK is fighting as a partner in the DMK front, the PMK is seeking election as an ally of the AIADMK alliance.

Though Villupuram segment, which was carved out of Tindivanan LS seat (general) after the delimitation exercise, was marked as a reserved constituency in 2008.

In the last two polls, AIADMK had won this seat and this time the PMK has fielded Vadivel Ravanan, one of the prominent Dalit faces of the party.

To throw a tough challenge, the VCK is betting on general secretary Ravi Kumar, who unsuccessfully contested from the Tiruvallur Lok Sabha constituency in the last general election in alliance with DMK.

Ravi Kumar, a writer, has been an ardent anti-caste activist and has found his place in the party through a series of demonstrations.

A notable aspect is that Villupuram is the only constituency in the state where both the candidates of the major alliances are not crorepatis. According to the poll affidavit, Vadivel Ravanan has assets worth Rs 19.25 lakh, the poorest candidate in AIADMK alliance, and Ravi Kumar in his affidavit disclosed that his assets were worth Rs 65.09 lakh, the sixth poorest candidate in both the AIADMK and DMK alliances.

AMMK has fielded Vanur N Ganapathy, a two-time MLA from Vanur in Villupuram. Ganapathy, a known face to the voters of this region, is expected to throw a stiff challenge to the PMK and VCK nominees.

The constituency has already started witnessing heated political campaigns by VCK and PMK candidates. VCK founder Thol Thirumavalavan earlier declared that he would not be part of any alliance in which PMK is present.