Mylapore's Historic Legacy Sets Stage for High-Stakes Election Battle
Mylapore, renowned for its Pallava-era temples and Portuguese-built churches, stands as one of the oldest continuously inhabited urban settlements in South India. This congested sprawl is a vibrant mosaic where fisherfolk, Tamil Brahmins, Nagarathar merchants, and the urban middle class coexist, creating a unique socio-political landscape.
Key Contenders and Historical Context
DMK candidate Dha Velu is aiming for re-election from the constituency, which spans Santhome, Foreshore Estate, Kutchery Road, Alwarpet, and Mandaveli. Historically, only T K Kapali has served as MLA twice from this seat, achieving this feat in different parties—he won in 1977 as a DMK candidate and crossed over to AIADMK to secure victory again in 1980.
AIADMK has won the seat three times consecutively—in 2006, 2011, and 2016—but notably changed its candidate on each occasion. This time, with AIADMK not fielding a candidate, its vote transfer becomes a critical factor in the election outcome.
BJP's Strategic Move and Candidate Profile
As part of the NDA alliance led by AIADMK, the BJP has fielded Tamilisai Soundarajan to challenge Velu. The last time the BJP won this seat was in 2001, in alliance with the DMK, through candidate K N Lakshmanan. The party maintains strong pockets of support, which could prove advantageous when aligned with one of the major Dravidian parties.
Mylapore has elected women three times in the past—Anandanayaki in 1971, Valarmathi in 1984, and Rajalakshmi in 2011—and Tamilisai is a high-profile candidate aiming to add to this list. However, some BJP workers on the ground express dissatisfaction that former state president K Annamalai was not selected as the candidate.
Tamilisai appears confident, stating, "This is a constituency with heritage and urban character. There are a lot of issues such as solid waste management, untapped tourism potential among others to be addressed."
Incumbent's Strengths and Local Challenges
Sitting MLA Velu benefits from a strong party network but faces pockets of local discontent. Key issues include areas that flood every monsoon and concerns among fishing communities in Foreshore Estate and Nochi Nagar.
Velu addressed these challenges, saying, "We have addressed the flooding issue by laying storm water drains for 44 km—through Luz, Nageswara Rao Park, P S Sivaswamy Salai, and M K Amman street. The only issue is allotment of houses to slum tenements—they wanted us to provide temporary houses and provide in situ development. We will be doing it this term."
Other Parties Adding Complexity to the Race
Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) has introduced a twist by fielding a Brahmin candidate, R L Arun. The party's vote share in the constituency has seen a significant rise, from 2,356 votes in 2016 to 10,124 in 2021. Arun emphasized, "We have always stood with the oppressed communities over the past 16 years. In Mylapore too this will work in our favour."
Additionally, TVK candidate P Venkataramanan is expected to garner votes among the youth, further diversifying the electoral dynamics.
Demographic Shifts and Electoral Implications
The Mylapore constituency has undergone notable changes. The terraced houses of Tamil Brahmin families in the old mada streets have largely given way to apartments, with an expanding cohort of IT professionals and young migrants moving into areas like Abhiramapuram and Alwarpet.
With AIADMK absent from the race, the consolidation or fragmentation of its vote bank behind the BJP could decisively influence the election result. The contest is poised to be tight, reflecting the evolving urban and political fabric of this historic constituency.
