ERODE (WEST)

Erode (West) constituency, formed in 2008, has witnessed a mix of development initiatives and persistent civic challenges during 2021-2026. MLA S. Muthusamy of the DMK won the 2021 elections with 49.49% of votes (100,757 votes), defeating AIADMK's K. V. Ramalingam. The constituency, covering parts of Perundurai and Erode taluks with 245,493 electors, includes both urban areas under Erode Corporation and rural regions. Major development efforts included the PM Gram Sadak Yojana (89 rural roads spanning 370 km) and foundation laying for a city gas distribution network worth Rs 3,680 crore in Erode and Nilgiris districts to provide piped natural gas to over 8.8 lakh households. The area benefited from state-level industrial growth, with Tamil Nadu attracting Rs 9.74 lakh crore in investments during 2021-2023, creating an estimated 31 lakh jobs. However, significant civic issues marred progress. Industrial pollution from SIPCOT estates caused severe groundwater contamination with TDS levels exceeding 5,000 mg/l, leading to health concerns including cancer in Perundurai areas. A Rs 136.76 crore Common Effluent Treatment Plant was sanctioned but construction only began recently in 2026 after years of delay. Water scarcity, uneven infrastructure development between urban and rural areas, and incomplete projects like the 5.4 km elevated corridor from Kalingarayan Illam to Thindal remained major frustrations for residents. Controversies included land disputes in Subramaniya Nagar (Ward 50) where residents threatened to boycott the 2026 elections over NOC issues with the Tamil Nadu Housing Board. Opposition parties criticized the DMK government over alleged governance failures, including the Jaffer Sadiq drug trafficking case and rising crime rates. Protests erupted in July 2024 against the Union government for neglecting Tamil Nadu in budget allocations, with tribal communities also demanding road infrastructure in remote areas. As voters approach the April 2026 elections, they should weigh the state's broader industrial achievements and welfare schemes against local unfulfilled promises on pollution control, infrastructure completion, and land rights resolution. The constituency's largest challenge remains balancing industrial growth with environmental protection and equitable civic development across its diverse urban-rural landscape.