Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: The Royapuram assembly constituency in north Chennai has emerged as a key political battleground ahead of the Tamil Nadu assembly elections on April 23, with counting scheduled for May 4. Long considered an AIADMK stronghold under veteran leader D Jayakumar for over three decades, Royapuram swung to the DMK in 2021 when Idream R Murthy secured a decisive win, reshaping its political landscape. For the upcoming polls, the DMK has fielded orthopaedic surgeon Dr A Subair Khan, son of late party leader A Rahman Khan, to retain the seat. He faces a tough challenge from Jayakumar, a six-time MLA seeking to reclaim his former bastion, banking on his long-standing ties with the coastal community as a former fisheries minister. Jayakumar had finished runner-up in 2021, losing to Murthy, who secured 53.16% of the vote and a victory margin of over 27,000. In 2016, however, Jayakumar had won the seat with 55,205 votes and a margin of 6.57%. The contest also includes TV Somu of actor-politician Vijay’s TVK and Babumailan of the NTK. Royapuram: Home to fishing communities Royapuram has historically been a working-class hub, home to fishing communities, port workers and small traders. For many residents, especially fishermen, electoral concerns go beyond visibility, focusing on livelihood issues such as better access to markets and stable incomes. The constituency also faces significant urban challenges. Residents frequently cite severe air and dust pollution caused by heavy freight movement, chronic traffic congestion near the Royapuram bridge, and recurring sewage contamination in drinking water. These issues have made infrastructure and environmental health central to the current election discourse.(With ANI inputs)
