SALEM (SOUTH)

Salem South constituency witnessed significant development activity between 2021 and 2026, though progress was uneven. In the 2021 Assembly elections, AIADMK's E. Balasubramanian won with 49.22% of votes, defeating DMK's A. S. Saravanan (37.80%). Major infrastructure projects included a 7.87 km double-decker flyover (the longest in Tamil Nadu), railway station renovation under Amrit Bharat Scheme (₹45 crore), and a €456 million water supply upgrade by SUEZ covering 234,634 households. Industrial growth initiatives included ELCOT IT SEZ at Jagirammapalayam (₹40.53 crore) and planned TIDEL software park at Karuppur. State schemes like Namakku Naame (₹21.40 crore for roads, schools, drains) and Naan Mudhalvan skill development program were implemented. However, residents faced persistent civic issues including severe traffic congestion, urban flooding in low-lying areas, water scarcity in certain pockets, and mosquito menace during monsoons. The constituency saw major project delays: the Chennai-Salem Expressway stalled due to land acquisition disputes and farmer protests, while the Salem Metro project remained stuck at feasibility stage despite being announced in 2021. The planned textile park faced local opposition and made no progress. Public grievances centered on hygiene issues at bus stands, inadequate drainage systems, and lack of parking facilities. Looking ahead to the 2026 elections, voters face a choice between continuity and change. The AIADMK government claims ₹10,000 crore worth of projects for Salem in three-and-a-half years, but opposition parties criticize the lack of major developmental initiatives and unfulfilled promises on fuel price reduction and welfare schemes. DMK has intensified grassroots mobilization, including a 30,000-women rally in Salem. Voters should weigh the tangible infrastructure improvements against persistent civic problems, evaluate which promised projects materialized versus which stalled, and consider whether their daily concerns—water supply, traffic, flooding—were adequately addressed over the past five years.