DMK raises law-and-order and development issues during Thattanchavady campaign
Puducherry: DMK MP S. Jagathrakshakan, who is the party's coordinator for the Union Territory, criticised the ruling AINRC-BJP government on Wednesday for its handling of law and order and the pace of local development while campaigning for the Thattanchavady bypoll.
Speaking in Puducherry, Mr. Jagathrakshakan drew attention to two murders reported in the region over recent days and said residents were worried about a rise in gang rivalry-related fatal assaults. He also faulted civic amenities in the Thattanchavady constituency, which has been represented for a long time by Chief Minister N. Rangasamy.
“The constituency could have developed better as it was represented by Mr. Rangasamy for a long time. The open drains in the constituency point towards lack of development.”
Mr. Jagathrakshakan was in the Union Territory to campaign for the DMK candidate, K. Sethu Selvam, ahead of the by-election. His comments sought to link recent violent incidents and infrastructure deficits to the performance of the ruling combine.
Local security and civic grievances raised
The MP characterised the murders as arising from gang-related rivalry and framed them as part of a broader concern over law-and-order. He criticised the administration for failing to prevent such incidents and for inadequate civic works in the constituency.
The criticism comes at a politically sensitive moment: Thattanchavady is a seat closely associated with the Chief Minister, and any suggestion of administrative neglect or rising violence carries electoral significance for both the ruling front and opposition parties contesting the bypoll.
Political context and reactions
During the campaign, Mr. Jagathrakshakan also took aim at the state of the Congress in Puducherry, referring to images of party volunteers seeking votes in the name of Tamil Nadu film star and TVK founder C. Joseph Vijay. He accused the Congress of betraying the INDIA bloc’s earlier decision to back Rahul Gandhi as Prime Ministerial candidate and said the party now faced a crisis of leadership in the Union Territory.
The DMK MP’s remarks are likely to sharpen contesting narratives in the bypoll: the DMK aims to present law-and-order and basic civic services as central issues, while the ruling AINRC-BJP combine will be expected to respond with its own record and assurances on public safety and local development.
What is at stake in Thattanchavady
Thattanchavady has been a politically prominent constituency, and the bypoll will test voter sentiment on issues flagged by the DMK. The immediate concerns raised by the party are:
- Law and order: Recent murders and reported gang-related assaults.
- Basic civic amenities: Open drains and other infrastructure deficits in the constituency.
- Political leadership: Questions over the ruling combine’s stewardship of the area given its long association with the Chief Minister.
| Issue | DMK claim | Key actor |
|---|---|---|
| Recent violent incidents | Two murders reported; rise in gang rivalry-related assaults | S. Jagathrakshakan |
| Civic amenities | Open drains and lack of development in constituency | S. Jagathrakshakan; reference to N. Rangasamy's long tenure |
| Party positioning | Congress seen as weak locally; DMK emphasises INDIA bloc leadership | S. Jagathrakshakan; mention of C. Joseph Vijay and Rahul Gandhi |
The source report did not include an immediate response from the AINRC or the BJP at the time of Mr. Jagathrakshakan’s remarks. The ruling front will be expected to rebut the DMK's assertions and outline measures to address both security and civic concerns before polling.
Electoral implications and next steps
With campaigning under way, parties are sharpening narratives around governance, development and safety to sway voters in a closely watched bypoll. Local voters will weigh the allegations and counterclaims as part of their electoral decision.
Officials, police and the ruling combination’s spokespeople may release their responses and incident details as the bypoll approaches; those statements will be important for voters seeking clarity on the recent murders and on plans to remedy civic deficiencies in Thattanchavady.
