TENKASI

Tenkasi constituency, formed as a district in 2019, has witnessed a closely contested political landscape over the past five years. In the 2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election, S. Palani Nadar of the Indian National Congress won by a razor-thin margin of just 370 votes (41.94% vote share) against AIADMK's S. Selvamohandas Pandian. During 2021-2026, the constituency benefited from statewide development initiatives under the DMK government, including road infrastructure improvements under PMGSY, drinking water supply projects worth Rs 9,000 crore benefiting over 1.2 crore people across Tamil Nadu, sanitation infrastructure investments of Rs 1,777 crore for sewerage projects, and healthcare upgrades including a new maternity centre at Tenkasi government district hospital. The government also focused on education infrastructure, electricity supply improvements, affordable housing under PMAY, and employment initiatives like the Naan Mudhalvan Scheme that generated over 12 lakh man-days of work statewide. However, the constituency has faced significant challenges and unfulfilled promises. The most glaring example is the Shenbagavalli check dam near Vasudevanallur, built in 1733 and crucial for irrigating over 12,000 acres of agricultural land. Despite being a recurring election promise since its major breach in 1967, the dam remains unrepaired as of 2026, severely affecting local farmers and water supply. Tourism infrastructure at major attractions like Courtallam waterfalls and Kutraleeshwarar temple has been criticized for inadequate sanitary conditions and poor maintenance of government guest houses. Unlawful quarrying activities have threatened the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats region, and water scarcity continues to affect rural agricultural areas. Broader allegations of corruption against the DMK government, including accusations of a '20% commission' norm by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and ED raids on TASMAC-related corruption, have contributed to public distrust, though no specific corruption cases tied directly to Tenkasi MLAs are documented. The constituency remains politically significant as a reserved SC seat in the Lok Sabha (where DMK's Rani Srikumar won in 2024 with 40.97% votes) and includes six assembly segments. As voters approach the April 23, 2026 assembly election with results on May 4, they should consider both the infrastructure development achieved under state-level schemes and the critical local issues that remain unresolved, particularly water management for agriculture, tourism potential, and environmental protection. The narrow 2021 victory margin suggests that every vote matters, and voters should evaluate candidates based on their commitment to addressing long-standing issues like the Shenbagavalli dam and sustainable development of the region's natural resources.