The South Chennai constituency is poised for an intense battle in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024 as sitting MP Thamizhachi Thangapandian of the DMK goes up against former MP J. Jayavardhan of the AIADMK, and former Telangana governor Tamilisai Soundararajan of the BJP.
Despite experiencing a fluctuating electoral landscape post-delimitation, South Chennai is widely regarded as a stronghold of the DMK.
South Chennai & Its Challenges
Following the 2009 delimitation exercise, the South Chennai constituency comprises six assembly seats: Virugambakkam, Saidapet, Thiyagarayanagar, Mylapore, Velachery, and Shozhinganallur. All are currently held by the ruling DMK-Congress alliance.
The constituency has a population of 21,05,824 (Census 2011). In the past, it has been contested by prominent figures such as former chief minister C.N. Annadurai, former Union minister Murasoli Maran, actor-turned-politician Vyjayanthimala, and former Union finance minister T.T. Krishnamachari.
The major challenges facing the constituency include waterlogging during monsoons, stormwater drainage problems, and road issues. These issues are likely to be on the voters' minds when the seat goes to the polls on April 19.
How South Chennai Fared In The Past
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Thamizhachi Thangapandian secured 56.06 percent of the total votes (5,64,872 votes). Her closest opponent, Jayavardhan of the AIADMK, received 26.94 percent of the votes (3,02,649).
In the 2014 election, Jayavardhan clinched victory with 41.34 percent of the votes (4,34,540), defeating DMK leader T.K.S. Elangovan and BJP leader La Ganesan.
In the preceding election, in 2009, the AIADMK’s Rajendran secured the seat with a narrow margin, defeating the DMK’s R.S. Bharathy by around 33,000 votes.
From 1996 to 2004, the seat was held by the DMK’s T.R. Baalu.
Chennai South Lok Sabha Constituency: Battle Of Scions
The electoral battle in South Chennai will be a contest between political families. Thamizhachi Thangapandian is the daughter of the late former MLA Thangapandian and sister of Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu. Tamilisai Soundararajan, daughter of veteran Congress leader Kumari Ananthan, and Jayavardhan, son of former Tamil Nadu minister Jayakumar, also come from prominent political families.
Thamizhachi faced a brief controversy when she embarked on her campaign despite facing a leg injury, which led some people to question if she was feigning the wound. She was called “Tamil Nadu’s Mamata” and subjected to mocking memes. She expressed surprise at the public perception, and clarified that her injury was genuine.
Meanwhile, Jayavardhan is relying on his work in the constituency from 2014-2019 in his bid to reclaim the seat.
Tamilisai Soundararajan resigned from her position as Telangana governor to rejoin the saffron party and was subsequently nominated as a candidate for South Chennai.
The election is expected to be a close one because, despite the DMK’s hold on the seat, there is believed to be some anti-incumbency, exacerbated by the flood last year.