A constituency that has witnessed two by-elections in the last three years, Erode (East) is predominantly an urban seat, with nearly two-thirds of its areas falling within the Erode Corporation limits.
A major commercial center reflects both the economic activity and civic pressures of a rapidly growing city.
Known as the ‘City of Turmeric’, ‘City of Textiles’ and ‘City of the Loom’, Erode is also the birthplace of social reformer Periyar EV Ramasamy and mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. Textile markets, power weaving units, cattle trade and turmeric trade are essential to the local economy.
Pollution problems
Discharge of untreated sewage by textile processing units into the Cauvery River and the Kalingarayan Canal continues to be a major problem. Despite the presence of sewage treatment plants, several of the more than 500 bleachers, dyers and tanneries in the city discharge untreated waste into canals such as Perumpallam, Pichaikaranpallam and Sunnambu, which eventually drain into the Cauvery.
Delays in the Underground Sewerage Scheme (UGSS) compounded the problem as more than 40 million liters of untreated sewage per day entered the waterways. In 2023, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) identified the stretch of the river passing through the city as one of the most polluted stretches in the country due to sewage inflow. “Promises made during the elections to address pollution and civic issues remain unfulfilled,” said V. Santhosh, a businessman. Although Chief Minister MK Stalin announced the establishment of more sewage treatment plants during his visit to Pollachi in 2024, residents point to limited progress.
Turmeric market
The constituency is home to the second largest turmeric market in the country, earning it the name “Manjal Maanagaram”. However, traders and farmers are looking for infrastructure support, including cold storage, a regional office of the National Turmeric Board and an accredited testing laboratory.
Urban infrastructure has not kept pace with expansion. Traffic jams persist with demands for flyovers at Mettur Road, Perundurai Road, Kollampalayam and Panneerselvam Park junction. Illegal parking and traffic offenses affecting other road users continue to be a problem for motorists and their enforcement is low. The absence of multi-level parking facilities adds to the problem. “Delay in implementation of UGSS and re-laying of damaged roads is impacting residents and motorists,” said P. Krishnan, a voter from Karungalpalayam.
Civic problems include poor solid waste management, encroachment on road space, menace of stray dogs, irregular supply of drinking water and unplanned urbanization. “Measures to decongest the roads and improve sanitation need priority,” said V. Amutha, a resident of Sampath Nagar.
Voter demographic
Out of 60 wards in the corporation, 33 fall under the constituency. Members of the Sengunthar Mudaliar and Kongu Vellalar Gounder communities form a significant proportion of the electorate, with the rest being North Indian settlers and others.
Since delimitation, various parties have been elected in the constituency: VC Chandhirakumar (DMDK) in 2011, KS Thennarasu (AIADMK) in 2016, E. Thirumahan Everaa in 2021, EVKS Elangovan in the 2023 by-poll and VC Chandhirakumar (DMD) in 2025.
With an electorate of about 1.76 lakh, Erode (East) has the lowest number of voters among the eight constituencies in the district. As many as 53,528 names were deleted after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), making it the only constituency in the district with less than two million voters.
While there is speculation that the Minister for Housing, Prohibition and Excise may contest from the constituency, the AIADMK is likely to give the seat to its alliance partner, the Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar), which may field its general secretary M. Yuvaraj.
There is a feeling among voters that civic issues persist despite repeated election promises.
With elections approaching, the constituency is likely to witness a multi-party contest. Issues such as pollution, traffic congestion and urban infrastructure are expected to feature prominently in the campaign, even as voters look for concrete results.
Published – 21 March 2026 13:11 IST
