Srirangam knot: DMK gets caste right, AIADMK banks on experience

Trichy: Srirangam, a temple constituency on the banks of the Cauvery, is significant to AIADMK's rank and file as it was represented by their late supremo J Jayalalithaa. The constituency is no less important for DMK since historically the likelihood of the party forming a govt is high when they seal Srirangam. This election will witness a direct clash between senior AIADMK leader and former govt whip R Manoharan and DMK's S Durairaj, a fresh face. While AIADMK counts on the candidate's popularity — he was constituency in-charge when Jayalalithaa, as a CM, represented Srirangam (2011-2015), — DMK banks its hopes on caste arithmetic.Srirangam comprises seven wards of Trichy corporation, but about 70% of the seat is made up of rural areas such as Andanallur and Manikandam. Muthuraiyar is the single dominant community, followed by SC and vellalar. In the last 35 years, except for Jayalalithaa, all other MLAs were from mutharaiyar, a community that traditionally backed AIADMK since MGR's era. DMK has strategically fielded Durairaj, a candidate from the community. AIADMK's Manoharan is a native of Srirangam island, but from the naidu community, a minority in the constituency. While TVK and NTK have fielded two youngsters, S Ramesh, 31, and M Dharmaraj, 25, natives of Chengalpattu and Pudukottai respectively, they are unlikely to be a factor in the DMK - AIADMK clash. Mutharaiyars in rural areas traditionally support a candidate of their own, a pattern that gives DMK confidence. But AIADMK is proactive in campaigns. Manoharan, a seasoned politician, bonds with voters, a trait that DMK lacks.Importantly, DMK dropped their sitting MLA M Palaniyandi, a candidate who won Srirangam by a margin of about 20,000 votes in 2021. Strained relationship with DMK strongman KN Nehru and the incumbent's involvement in a case assaulting TV journalists at a stone quarry were alleged as reasons. Palaniyandi staying away from DMK campaigns is a matter of worry for the ruling party. AIADMK too has internal feuds, as a few mutharaiyar candidates were denied ticket. "Elections come and go but grievances of Srirangam remain unsolved, especially the Adimanai issue, a land dispute between HR&CE and residents. Dedicated parking for Srirangam temple is missing too," Suresh Venkatachalam, president, Srirangam Nagara Nala Sangam, said. While AIADMK is keen to revive grassroots connect and retrieve their bastion, DMK rekindles KMUT financial assistance scheme to win over rural women. The 2026 election will be experimental for both DMK and AIADMK in Srirangam. Either a non-dominant community candidate wins, the first after Jayalalithaa, or DMK bags the seat for consecutive terms, a first too.