No electricity, no water, no toilets for 16 years: 50 neglected families in Trichy to boycott TN polls; MLA already under lens after Feb assault row

More than 50 families residing in the Nandavanam area of Thirupparaithurai have declared their intention to boycott the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, citing nearly two decades of administrative abandonment. The residents, who fall under the Srirangam Assembly Segment of the Tiruchirappalli Parliamentary Constituency, told news agency ANI that they have lacked access to electricity, toilets, and safe drinking water since being relocated for a National Highway project 16 years ago. This protest for basic survival requirements emerges as their representative, DMK MLA M. Palaniyandi, got embroiled in a controversy regarding the purported assault of a journalist at a private quarry, an incident that has triggered widespread calls for investigation from opposition leaders.

Sixteen Years of Neglect in Nandavanam

Local residents told ANI that their community has been systematically forgotten by the state government following their relocation from the National Highway (NH) expansion zone 16 years ago. Resident Saroja told the agency that they continue to live in huts without power or sanitation, stating that during every election, political parties make promises that are never fulfilled. She highlighted that the lack of lighting is particularly hazardous during the rainy season, as snakes and dangerous creatures frequently enter their homes. Another resident, Thangaraj, told ANI that despite four Chief Ministers holding office during their tenure at this spot, no support for agriculture or basic human survival has been provided despite numerous petitions.

Election Boycott Decision by Thirupparaithurai Families

Faced with a lack of response from the Tamil Nadu government, the families in the Srirangam segment have decided to abstain from voting until their demands for amenities are met. The residents emphasized that they have been repeatedly neglected and are unwilling to participate in the democratic process while their lives remain at risk due to the absence of proper infrastructure. The decision to boycott is a direct response to what the community describes as a total failure of the administrative machinery to provide the most fundamental facilities required for human habitation.

Srirangam MLA M. Palaniyandi and Purported Assault Controversy

While residents protest for basic needs, the incumbent MLA for the Srirangam segment, M. Palaniyandi, has been the subject of reporting by TOI regarding an incident in February. A purported video surfaced on social media showing the MLA allegedly assaulting a journalist who was attempting to film footage of a quarry owned by Palaniyandi in Karur. According to TOI, the journalists involved alleged they were kidnapped and assaulted, while police sources from the Karur SP office confirmed on February 11 that a thorough inquiry was underway. While CSRs were filed by both parties involved in the dispute on January 30, opposition leaders have criticized the delay in formal legal action against the legislator.

Srirangam Constituency Overview

The Nandavanam area falls within the critical Srirangam Assembly Segment, which is part of the 24 Tiruchirappalli Parliamentary Constituency. As of March 25, the combination of localized infrastructure failures in Thirupparaithurai and the high-profile allegations against the sitting MLA has intensified the political scrutiny on the region.