CHENNAI: R Monika is 25, S Monika is 23. The other common factor for the two opponents for the councillor’s post in ward 41 is that they are fielded (NTK) and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM).
While the bigger parties have focused largely on veterans and old warhorses, smaller outfits like the MNM, NTK and the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) have together fielded more than 50 candidates aged below 30.
Many of them, who are PG students or office goers, will lock horns against seasoned politicians from the Dravidian majors. Even the BJP has a 26-year-old named Athiraj, while the DMK has 22-year-old Nilavarasi.
Tamil Selvi, a 26-year-old advocate from the Seemanled NTK, is contesting from ward 28 in Madhavaram and said fielding people like her was a big step. “As a resident of the locality, I have been speaking out on water stagnation, bad roads and poor civic amenities for years.
The locality continues to be troubled by flooding and roads are not milled. Storm water drains are inconsistently laid. I aspire to change the system from the bottom by politically engaging residents,” she said.
The Kamal Haasan-led MNM’s 24-year-old Aravindh J, fielded in ward 30, said footpaths in the area were either encroached upon or blocked by poles laid by internet companies. “Holding the corporation staff non-performance is needed. I will actively monitor storm water and ensure there is people partenders are float- against are mostly above 60. A ward needs a young and energetic councillor to spearhead people’s issues. ”
In ward 10 in Thiruvottiyur, the NTK’s U Nikhil Kumar, a 24-year-old computer science engineer, said his goal was to establish biogas plants. “Here, there are many cattle owners. But there is no system to generate manure. There are no cow sheds, leading to cattle roaming on the streets. ”
Another computer engineer, the PMK’s 25-year-old Ramkumar N, said he would be setting up an exclusive app like the ‘Namma Chennai’ app, for residents of ward 36. “Garbage conservancy, sewage stagnation, mosquito menace and road damage are the main issues. As an app designer, I will one exclusively for the constituency residents.
Through this, I will also rectify the issue, monitor how frequently issues are reported and then take it up with officials,” he added.
Despite being pitted against heavyweights, these youngsters hope to perform well as their parties had done well in the May 2021 assembly election. In Chennai, the NTK secured 11%-12% votes, while the MNM got 9%-10%.
DMK FIELDS WIDOW OF PARTY FUNCTIONARY
The DMK has given a ward councillor ticket to Sameena Selvam, wifeof the deceased party functionary Selvam who was murdered inMadipakkam, just few days ahead of nominations.Sameena willcontest from ward 188 in Madipakkam, in which her husband Selvamwas supposed to contest from.
She filed her nomination on Friday.Theparty has also fielded JK Manikandan, in the nearby ward 186, whoallegedly had a rivalry with Selvam. PMK, NTK, MNM, and AIADMKhave fielded candidates here. A probe is on in Selvam's death.
BJP MAN FILES NOMINATION ON MARRIAGE DAY
Five hours after he got married, N Vinodh Kumar, a BJP member at Nanganallur in Chennai, filed his nomination for the councillor post on Friday. The 33-year-old has been in the party since 2013. He is running a common service centre and has been helping residents of Thillai Ganga Nagar with all their certificates and other government document requirements. “I have always wanted to work with people.
My father is a mill worker. I want to improve the subways in the area and get the government sanction for the road overbridge in this ward (No 162)."
