Salem South constituency: people want traffic congestion, mosquito menace, and drinking water issues addressed
Salem South Assembly constituency, considered an AIADMK stronghold, covers Salem Corporation’s 23 wards (37 to 60). The entire Kondalampatti zone and a few wards at the Ammapet zone in the Corporation come under this constituency.
The AIADMK has won eight times (1977, 1980, 1984, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, and 2021) in the constituency, while the Congress has won four times (1952, 1957, 1962, and in 1991). After the emergence of the Dravidian majors, the Congress did not secure a win, except in 1991 when they were in alliance with the AIADMK. The DMK has won twice in this constituency (1989 and 1996).
Salem South has a large number of weavers and people involved in the textile businesses in Ammapet, Dadagapatti, and Gugai. Silver anklet workers also constitute a significant number in Nethimedu, Maniyanoor, and Dadagapatti.
Ahead of the elections, people residing in the constituency highlighted civic issues like traffic congestion, sewage channels, mosquito menace, and drinking water issues.
V. Periyasamy, a resident of Ammapet, said that most of the roads dug for underground drainage works in the locality were relaid in the past six months and noted that the pressing problem here was drinking water. Drinking water is supplied once in 10 days and only at night. “We have raised this issue to the Corporation multiple times, but no action was taken,” he added.
Palanisamy, a resident of Periyar Nagar, said that for the past 20 years, due to the absence of proper drainage, sewage water and rainwater flow over the roads during rain.
Expressing the same issues at Kitchipalayam, Shaul, a lawyer, said that during rain, the sewage and rainwater from the Pachapatti stream enter houses. This issue, he stated, was not addressed for many years, even after multiple petitions submitted to the Corporation. “Due to people dumping garbage in the sewage channels, the sewage overflows on to the roads,” Mr. Shaul added.
Highlighting the mosquito menace, Ravishankar, a resident of Gugai, said that in his locality, there are no proper drainage facilities due to narrow streets, and the mosquito problem is rampant. Especially in the evening, people shut the doors and windows of their houses completely, to escape from mosquitoes, he added.
Demanding to reduce the number of share autos, P. Elango, a resident of Nethimedu, said that more share autos ply between Kondalampatti-Old Bus Stand and Seelanaickenpatti-Old Bus Stand causing traffic congestion both during morning and evening hours. He also added that drinking water is being supplied once in 10 days in many wards in the Kondalampatti zone.
G. Anand, an auto driver, said that a flyover should be constructed at Seelanaickenpatti, where the Salem-Chennai, Salem-Namakkal, and Salem-Bengaluru National highways connect. The already existing flyover was constructed without proper planning. The city police diverted traffic in this locality, but it is only a short-time benefit, Mr. Anand added.
Expecting a four-cornered contest of the AIADMK and BJP, DMK and allies, TVK, and NTK, the AIADMK party cadre say that the votes to be secured by the TVK will reduce the victory margin in the constituency. DMK cadre say that in the past three elections, the winning margin of the AIADMK reduced drastically, which will favour the DMK this time.
Published – March 21, 2026 11:30 pm IST
