While Chennai district election officials covered up some signs at Royapuram’s Robinson Park, where the DMK was launched in 1949, local resident A. Putli, 50, was busy selling buttermilk and aloe vera to eke out a living.
Follow | Tamil Nadu Election Update
“Livelihood security is the main concern here,” she said. Ever since she learned that her father named her after Mahatma Gandhi’s mother, she has been consistent in her commitment to a certain political ideology. But for poor residents like her in the Royapuram Assembly constituency, where a significant number of voters belong to the socially weaker sections of society, the government’s welfare measures are most important.
“I got ₹1000 under Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam. I am a beneficiary of free bus scheme, Vidiyal Payanam. But I intend to vote for a candidate who will also solve the housing problem in our area. A significant number of voters in this constituency have to work hard every day to protect our electoral scheme.” said Mrs. Putli.
Many residents like her in the constituency have demanded decent and affordable housing for the poor while some want free housing. Many voters also asked the government to rebuild dilapidated Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board (TNUHDB) houses to prevent them from collapsing, especially along the coast where corrosion is a major problem for reinforced concrete structures.
K. Sulakshana, a senior citizen living along the coast of the constituency, said 64 TNUHDB houses are in a dilapidated condition and have not been reconstructed. S. Prema, a resident near the old corporation maternity hospital in Ward 50, said, “We request the government to set up a modern maternity hospital in our area. Women in our locality used to visit the old maternity hospital near Anathai Kuppam. Now it has been renovated and converted into a clinic. We have to visit RSRM hospital for maternity services.”
On Tuesday, N. Murugan, a worker operating a jetting machine near Anathai Kuppam, said many residents in the area had complained of sewage blockages in their houses and demanded the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) to clear the blockages in the sewerage network.
Resident A. Prabhakaran said flooding in the constituency increased after the Metro Rail was constructed near the Maharani Theatre. “The Port Trust has raised the height of the land. This has caused flooding in the area. We have demanded work to improve the pumping infrastructure. The flood level was 3 feet in 2023. There was no flooding last year. But the risk remains,” he said.
G. Shankar, another resident, said some residents who needed a patta had to take permission from the Port Trust. The MLA needs to improve coordination with various government agencies, including the Port Trust, railways and local bodies, to resolve civic issues, residents said.
D. Jayakumar, a former AIADMK minister who won from Royapuram in 1991, 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016, said he was instrumental in constructing multi-storey houses and replacing all the shanties in the constituency during his tenure. “The DMK government has failed to maintain the structures. The voters will understand how much we have worked for the constituency only after the new MLA is elected in 2021,” he said.
Pointing to the AIADMK’s role in preventing pollution caused by iron ore and coal handling at the port, Mr. Jayakumar said the constituency had remained green as residents had planted 50,000 trees with government support during his tenure.
“The constituency was referred to as the ‘pink city’ because of the pollution caused by iron ore handling. Whenever the port handled coal, our streets turned black. The constituency became clean thanks to our efforts,” he added.
Congress councilor Suresh Kumar said that the work on the pumping stations has been completed to solve the civic problems and the old sewers have been restored for flood mitigation. “Voters demanded measures to protect the livelihoods of those who depend on fishing,” he added.
Royapuram
A significant number of voters in this constituency belong to the socially weaker strata of society
Department: 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53
Key issues
Issues of livelihood of various sections, including fishermen and daily wage workers
Flooding of residential areas
Problems in the sewage network
Delay in issuing free home site patta to local residents
Poor condition of high-rise buildings where economically weaker sections live
Poor maintenance of neighborhoods managed by the Tamil Nadu Urban Development Board
Voters before SIR
Total: 1,98,576
Men: 96,888
Women: 1,01,611
Others: 77
Voters after SIR
Total: 1,56,931
Men: 75,870
Women: 81,004
Others: 57
Number of polling stations: 194
DMK’s Idream R. Murthy defeated AIADMK’s D. Jayakumar by a margin of 27,779 votes in
S. Ramesh Kumar, 53, a resident of the constituency, said the main Dravidian Party candidates who are going to contest from the constituency are hopeful, but people are looking for some new candidate who is innovative in his approach to solving civic problems. “Voters were upset when elected representatives tried to play down the demand for decent housing for the poor. Party leaders who mocked residents without a patta may not win support during the election campaign,” he said.
Pointing to the launch of youth leagues of new parties like the TVK in many streets of Royapuram constituency, residents said this is expected to facilitate vote-splitting and siphon off votes from the most popular candidates of the two Dravidian majors.
DMK functionary N. Manogaran, who is the president of the Arignar Anna Poonga Pedestrians Association in Robinson Park, said many of the 3,500 pedestrians who visit the park discussed the need for affordable housing for all eligible residents in the constituency, welfare measures for poor residents, improvement of parks and playgrounds and development of parking spaces.
“We have provided free parking spaces for 2,000 motorcycles near the park. DMK is determined to provide free parking on the plot to all eligible residents here. All low-income housing will be redeveloped. Chief Minister MK Stalin’s announcement to increase Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam from ₹ 1,000 to ₹ 2,000 has maximum expected impact in ₹ 2,000 constituency We want to tell voters that in constituency, we will build a government college,” Mr. Manogaran added.
Published – 25 Mar 2026 0:42 IST
