NAMAKKAL

Namakkal constituency, represented by DMK MLA Ramalingam P since 2021, has experienced a mixed five-year period marked by state-wide welfare schemes but persistent local civic issues. The constituency benefited from Tamil Nadu government initiatives including drinking water supply to over 7.15 lakh rural houses under the Jal Jeevan scheme (₹2,123 crore investment), health insurance coverage expansion to ₹10 lakh under the Chief Minister's health scheme, and education programs like the Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme and Pudhumai Penn schemes. Over 3.30 lakh houses were constructed in rural areas between May 2021 and October 2024 under housing schemes. Under the MLA Constituency Development Scheme, ₹702 crore was allocated annually for 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24, funding over 34,000 rural development works state-wide. However, Namakkal faced serious controversies and civic failures during this period. Most notably, an alleged kidney trafficking racket came to light involving illegal procurement of kidneys from impoverished power loom workers, leading to hospital license revocations. Multiple villages experienced severe water scarcity issues throughout the period. In 2025, Chellipalayam village residents blocked the Namakkal-Thuraiyur road with empty water pots protesting irregular supply for over six months. Five villages under Elanthakuttai and Sowthapuram panchayats threatened election boycotts over drinking water scarcity, with residents traveling kilometers to fetch water. Villagers near Soudapuram also threatened boycotts over the government's failure to repair two check dams essential for irrigation. Infrastructure neglect was evident with a 45-year-old overhead water tank in deteriorating condition posing collapse risks. The opposition AIADMK criticized the DMK government, with leader P Thangamani claiming no development projects were carried out in five years. The recurring protests and election boycott threats indicate significant public dissatisfaction with local governance delivery, despite state-wide welfare schemes. Voters should consider both the broader welfare initiatives that reached the constituency and the persistent local civic problems—particularly water infrastructure and public health scandals—that remained unresolved. The contrast between state-level policy announcements and ground-level implementation in Namakkal appears to be a key issue as the constituency approaches the next election.