Garbage dumped in and around Kannankurichi Burial Ground in Salem North Constituency | Photo credit: E. Lakshmi Narayanan
Salem North, an urbanized constituency in Salem district, represented by Tourism Minister R. Rajendran, was created in 2008 after delimitation, including 22 wards of Salem Corporation (wards 6 to 16, 26 to 36) and Kannankurichi town panchayat.
Mr Rajendran won in 2016 and 2021 and the constituency is considered a DMK stronghold in the district. Out of the three elections (after the constituency was formed in 2008), the DMK won twice and in 2011 the DMDK in the AIADMK alliance.
After September 2024, most of the roads excavated for various works were re-laid by the corporation. Likewise, the wards that lacked sewers and rainwater drainage were equipped with these facilities in the last year and a half. Residents have no major complaints about roads or sewers. Likewise, there are no drinking water supply problems in this constituency.
R. Rajendran. File | Photo credit: The Hindu
In Kannankurichi panchayat, most of the land has been converted into residential land in the last 15 years and people are willing to buy land in this panchayat as it is near the foothills of Yercaud.
A. Subramani, a resident of Kannankurichi, said that in the last 15 years, the number of people moving to Kannankurichi has increased. However, many areas still lack proper sewers. The resulting garbage is dumped in and around the Kannankurichi burial ground, which has a temple and a modernized Primary Health Center (PHC) nearby. Due to dumping of garbage, the people visiting the PHC and the temple cannot bear the unpleasant smell.
Residents of Kannankurichi have noticed two TASMAC outlets functioning in the center of the panchayat, with a government school, Kannankurichi police station and Kannankurichi bus stand located nearby. People visiting the outlets consume alcohol near the main road and during the evening people cannot cross the road due to the crowd at the TASMAC outlet. Residents made several statements demanding the relocation of shops. The residents added that one establishment has been operating for the past eight years and the other for the past six years and demanded that both the establishments be shifted.
V. Madhu, a resident of Ponnammapet, said that due to the presence of two railway barriers in Ponnammapet, the barriers are closed four to five times a day. More than 30 buses have to pass this road. The government has already announced a flyover at Ponnammapet. But the work is just beginning, he added.
Knowledge center at Ayyanthirumalai, ongoing construction for Bharathidasan Arivulagam at a cost of ₹ 103.90 crore and other successful implementation of various government schemes will ensure victory for DMK, party functionaries said. Salem North constituency is allotted to PMK under the AIADMK alliance. The PMK cadre claimed that the achievements of the AIADMK government in the past and the attention announcement for the 2026 assembly elections would contribute to their victory. NTK and TVK also believe that primary voters and youth will secure victory.
Published – 26 March 2026 23:17 IST
