THALLY

Thally constituency in Tamil Nadu's Krishnagiri district witnessed a mixed five-year period from 2021 to 2026 under CPI MLA T. Ramachandran, who won the 2021 election with 62.82% of the vote, defeating BJP's Dr. C. Nagesh Kumar by over 56,000 votes. The period saw implementation of various development initiatives including road construction projects, new healthcare facilities (primary health centers and hospitals), school upgrades, improved electricity infrastructure with grid expansion and new transformers, water supply and sanitation schemes including sewage treatment plants, affordable housing schemes, smart city projects in select towns, industrial parks to boost employment, and vocational training programs. E-governance services and citizen feedback mechanisms were also introduced to improve transparency and accountability. However, the constituency's hilly and tribal villages continued to face significant infrastructure deficits, with many areas lacking basic amenities like proper roads, drinking water, and electricity. Low-lying areas experienced severe flooding during monsoons with incomplete flood-mitigation projects, and sewage discharge into water bodies like Retteri Lake remained unresolved, affecting public health. Healthcare access in remote villages remained limited, and irrigation projects along with agricultural subsidies for farmers were not fully delivered. By 2026, public frustration reached a peak with over 500 villages threatening to boycott the April 2026 elections, citing unfulfilled promises and continued neglect. MLA Ramachandran faced criticism for failing to deliver on campaign commitments, particularly regarding tribal welfare and infrastructure in remote areas. Additionally, he faced legal challenges related to a 2013 murder case from which he was later acquitted. Voters should consider both the general development initiatives undertaken across the constituency and the persistent grievances in remote and tribal areas, weighing the progress made against the unfulfilled promises that led to widespread public disillusionment and boycott threats as the 2026 elections approached.