MADURAI CENTRAL

Madurai Central constituency witnessed significant political continuity and development activity between 2021 and 2026 under DMK's Dr. Palanivel Thiagarajan (PTR), who won decisively in 2021 with 73,205 votes (49.47%) against AIADMK's candidate. The period saw major infrastructure investments, including Prime Minister Modi's inauguration of projects worth over ₹4,400 crore for Madurai, featuring four-laning of NH-332A (₹2,100 crore) and NH-87 (₹1,800 crore) sections that reduced travel times by 40-50%. The constituency benefited from Tamil Nadu's Smart Cities Mission initiatives and broader state schemes in housing (PMAY), industrial development through the Madurai-Coimbatore Industrial Corridor, and employment programs like MGNREGA. However, the period was marked by persistent civic issues—inadequate underground drainage networks, poor road conditions, solid waste management failures, and severe Vaigai River pollution from untreated sewage—that dominated public discourse and remained unresolved since the previous election cycle. Controversies significantly impacted public trust during this period. A major property tax scam in Madurai Corporation resulted in revenue losses exceeding ₹200 crore, leading to arrests and the resignation of all zonal chairpersons on Chief Minister Stalin's orders. The BJP accused DMK functionaries of systematic corruption amounting to ₹150 crore. The long-delayed Madurai AIIMS project, announced in 2015 with foundation laid in 2019, remained incomplete, becoming a political flashpoint with CM Stalin criticizing central government inaction. Residents organized protests against land encroachment affecting public spaces and playgrounds, with around 50 protestors detained in one incident. An analysis of DMK's 505-point 2021 manifesto revealed that while some welfare promises like women's transfers were delivered, many structural reforms, institutional changes, and governance pledges remained unfulfilled. As the 2026 elections approached, PTR sought a third term against actor-politician Sundar C of Pudiya Neethi Katchi (NDA alliance), with voters prioritizing long-pending civic grievances over broader political narratives. The period also saw significant party dynamics, including AIADMK expulsions and defections to DMK in 2022 and 2026, and deaths of two MLAs (T.K. Amulkandasami and K. Ponnusamy) in 2025. Voters should consider both the substantial infrastructure investments and Smart City initiatives against the backdrop of unresolved civic problems, corruption allegations, and broken promises on projects like AIIMS. The choice between PTR's administrative experience and fiscal record versus Sundar C's new leadership appeal reflects the tension between continuity and change in addressing persistent urban challenges.