A competition between a writer, a doctor, and an orator in Madurai

In the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Madurai, a tough three-way battle is expected between the incumbent writer, CPM’s S Venkatesan, AIADMK’s doctor P Saravanan, and BJP’s orator Raama Srinivasan. The city, known for its political diversity, has been a stronghold for various parties in the past. However, this time, there is an anti-incumbency factor against Venkatesan due to the lack of infrastructure development in the constituency.

The local sentiment in Madurai suggests dissatisfaction with the current representative, Venkatesan, for not fulfilling promises related to infrastructure, especially roads. The lack of job opportunities and industrial growth over the past five years has also contributed to the disillusionment among the voters. The absence of new industries opening up is a major concern for residents like Ganesh, who believe that the lack of development might impact Venkatesan’s chances in the upcoming elections.

Among the promises made by the candidates, Raama Srinivasan has pledged to deepen the Vaigai river and upgrade the Madurai airport, while Saravanan has promised a perfume factory and ambulance facilities in each constituency. The recent visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi have boosted the morale of the BJP-led alliance in Madurai, but the question remains whether this will translate into actual votes. The DMK-led alliance with Congress and CPM, supported by smaller parties, seems to have an edge due to the consolidation of minority votes.

The lack of enthusiasm for the election campaign in Madurai is evident as the city gears up for the Lord Kallazhagar festival. While political parties make promises and alliances, the focus of the locals seems to be on the upcoming religious festivities rather than the political showdown. As the electoral battle intensifies, the outcome in Madurai will be closely monitored to see which candidate emerges victorious in this fiercely contested constituency.