There is only one more day left for polling, and the buzz in Anna Nagar is all about the candidates and their chances. During morning walks around Tower Park or over tumblers of tea at Shenoy Nagar, residents are engrossed in discussions about the constituency's electoral prospects.
A Historic Constituency with a New Dynamic
Once anchored by towering Dravidian figures, the Anna Nagar constituency is witnessing a multi-cornered battle this time. The seat rose to prominence in 1977 when M Karunanidhi made it his electoral base, winning consecutive terms and cementing its status as a DMK stronghold. Arcot Veeraswami N also won the constituency three times from 1996 to 2006. However, the party's streak was broken in 2011 when AIADMK's Gokula Indira captured the seat amid an anti-DMK wave.
In recent cycles, the DMK appears to have stabilised its position after back-to-back wins in 2016 and 2021 by M K Mohan. But Mohan is not contesting this time. Instead, the DMK's district secretary N Chitrarasu is seeking to defend the seat by leveraging the party's organisational strength.
The Contenders
On the other side, the AIADMK has turned to Gokula Indira once again, a former minister and a familiar face in Anna Nagar, to reclaim the constituency by tapping into anti-incumbency sentiment. Adding a new dimension to the race is TVK's VK Ramkumar, whose campaign targets younger and middle-class voters. Meanwhile, NTK's C Shankar, a lawyer and social worker, returns to the fray after building a modest but steady voter base in the last election.
“The entry of TVK and the continued presence of NTK have added a layer of uncertainty. Smaller parties have, in recent years, carved out pockets of support, particularly among younger voters and those disillusioned with the Dravidian majors,” says Sandhya Vedullapalli, secretary of the Federation of Anna Nagar Residents Association.
Urban Issues Take Center Stage
Ultimately, priorities remain rooted in everyday urban issues. TVK and NTK have been targeting these issue-driven voters. Resident groups have repeatedly flagged infrastructure stress. Ageing drainage and sewage systems are struggling to cope with rapid development, raising concerns about flooding and sanitation.
Residents also point to pollution in the Otteri Nullah and the gradual erosion of green spaces. “Here, civic issues often take precedence over broader ideological debates, shaping voter preferences more directly,” says K Ezhilarasan, an AIADMK supporter.
As the final day of campaigning wraps up, all eyes are on how these diverse factors will influence the outcome in this key Chennai constituency.
