PALLAVARAM

Pallavaram constituency in Tamil Nadu witnessed significant political and developmental activity from 2021 to 2026. In the 2021 Assembly elections, I. Karunanithi of the DMK won with 126,427 votes (47.5%), defeating AIADMK's S. Rajendran who secured 88,644 votes (33.3%). The DMK maintained its hold on this constituency, continuing its control since 2016. Over the five-year period, several infrastructure projects were initiated, including a ₹18.88 crore AMRUT 2.0 project for 24x7 piped water supply to benefit 60,000 residents, completion of the Keelkattalai Flyover to ease traffic congestion, and proposals to expand the Pallavaram-Thoraipakkam Radial Road into a six-lane highway. The state government also announced road relaying projects covering 11,872 km across Tamil Nadu by 2025-2026, with Pallavaram roads included. Under the MLACDS scheme, over 34,000 works were undertaken with more than 26,000 completed. However, the constituency faced persistent civic issues that dominated public grievances. Residents consistently complained about sanitation problems, inadequate water supply, poor drainage, and frequent flooding, particularly in the Chromepet and Pallavaram zones. The Pallavaram Periya Eri lake continued to suffer from environmental degradation due to illegal waste dumping and encroachments despite a 10-year court battle and legal interventions. The long-pending Chembarambakkam Water Scheme, originally scheduled for completion in 2016, remained unfinished as of this period. Residents' welfare associations submitted charters of demands highlighting infrastructure deficiencies and waterlogging issues that persisted despite population growth. As the 2026 elections approach (scheduled for April-May 2026), the political landscape is evolving with new entrants like actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) formed in 2024, and the Naam Tamizhar Katchi (NTK) which secured 8.09% votes in 2021. Several AIADMK members switched to DMK during 2022-2026, including O. Panneerselvam and P. H. Manoj Pandian, potentially reshaping party dynamics. Voters should consider both the infrastructure investments made and the unresolved civic issues—particularly water supply, drainage, and environmental concerns—when evaluating the constituency's progress. The entrance of new political parties may offer alternative governance models, making the 2026 election a significant choice for Pallavaram's future direction.