Trichy: AIADMK MLA from Srirangam S Valarmathi was stopped by villagers on Saturday near Trichy from campaigning for the candidate fielded by Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) in Trichy Lok Sabha constituency. Valarmathi, also minister for backward classes and minorities welfare, faced a volley of questions from the villagers near Manikandam for visiting the hamlet for the first time after being elected in 2016. Though AIADMK minister from the city Vellamandi N Natarajan who represent Trichy East assembly segment did not face such public dissent, he has come under criticism for failing to pursue proactive role in fulfilling the city’s needs in the tourism sector.As minister Valarmathi reached Sevanthiyanipatti village in Alundur panchayat in Manikandam block, a group of women besieged the minister for not visiting the village since she was elected in 2016. Pointing out that basic amenities in the hamlet including street lights and drinking water supply were not proper, the villagers stopped the minister from campaigning further. The local people also asked DMDK candidate Dr V Elangovan to try the poor quality drinking water supplied to them. “Even after Cyclone Gaja hit our hamlet, which is located on the Trichy-Pudukkottai border, the minister did not visit us. Since she has not done anything for us, we refused her to campaign in our village,” M Saravanan, a resident of Sevanthiyanipatti told TOI. The local people who had been demanding a bus stand at Srirangam added that their demand was also sidelined by the MLA.Though Trichy is also home to tourism minister Vellamandi N Natarajan, the tourism officer post in the district remains vacant for more than a year now. Besides, the minister was criticised by the local people for silent on relocating the congested Gandhi Market to Kallikudi on the city outskirts. “No futuristic plans were initiated to develop the tourism scene in the city. The tourism minister has been silent to our demand on the integrated bus terminus,” M Muthuganesan, a native of Andar Street said.The failure of two AIADMK ministers whose constituencies fall under Trichy Lok Sabha segment has put DMDK candidate Dr V Elangovan, a native of Dharmapuri, in a fix. While tourism minister Vellamandi Natarajan could not be reached, Srirangam MLA and backward classes minister S Valarmathi said, “There was no opposition from the local people. They complained about problems in drinking water supply, and we rectified it.”

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