Tamil Assembly Elections 2026: Heritage weighed down by neglect, climate stress and a tight electoral race

In the absence of a proper market, fisherwomen have to sell dried fish along the roadside near Poompuhar.
| Photo Credit:
Special arrangement

Work is under way at the sewage treatment plant near Mayiladuthurai
| Photo Credit:
Special arrangement

Poompuhar, or Kaveripoompattinam, once a thriving Chola port immortalised in the ancient Tamil work Silappadikaram, is now a fading coastal town where erosion, climate stress, and fragile fishing and farming livelihoods converge; set in the Cauvery delta’s protected agricultural zone, it is weighed down by underdevelopment, delayed infrastructure and environmental projects, and steady outmigration — underscoring a widening gap between its historic promise and present reality.

Climate change

Environmental degradation remains a key electoral issue. K.M. Iraniyan, coordinator of the Nilam Neer Pathukappu Iyakkam, points to the long-standing problem of sewage discharge into the Sathyavan irrigation canal from Mayiladuthurai town.

“For over 15 years, we have been demanding action. Though a ₹54-crore project has been announced, it remains incomplete,” he said. Untreated sewage continues to mix with canal water, particularly when Cauvery flows are released, affecting thousands of residents from Mannambandal to Akkur.

The consequences are severe: foul odour, groundwater contamination, and the forced use of polluted water for irrigation. Farmers say this has degraded soil quality and reduced productivity.

Mr. Iraniyan flagged the functioning of tar plants near Karuvi and Kidarangondan, alleging that emissions and odour are affecting nearby habitations. He called for stricter enforcement by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, noting that local opposition to these units has been mounting.

Despite being part of the Cauvery delta’s protected agricultural zone, the region has seen limited industrial diversification. The absence of agro-based industries has accelerated migration, with many residents moving to Tiruppur and Coimbatore for work.

Coastal erosion

Agriculture, once the backbone of the region, is under strain. Farmer leader Arupathy P. Kalyanam general secretary of the Federation of Farmers’ Associations in the Cauvery Delta districts underscores the district’s vulnerability to climate change, citing studies that rank Mayiladuthurai among Tamil Nadu’s most at-risk regions. He calls for long-term coastal protection, prevention of seawater intrusion and decentralised grain storage systems to strengthen resilience. Issues in paddy procurement — delays, inequitable access and additional costs — further burden small farmers.

Plight of fishermen

The constituency includes 13 fishing hamlets, notably Tharangambadi and Poompuhar, where basic infrastructure remains inadequate.

Anjali Devi R., in charge of the Fisherwomen Federation’s Tharangambadi chapter, said the villages do not receive drinking water supply daily. Several of them lack proper roads and street lights, and public transport is inadequate. “Both State-run and private buses often refuse to stop for fish workers carrying their catch,” she alleged.

Fishers report declining catch, raising concerns about sustainability and income security. Boats straying into Sri Lankan waters are frequently seized, compounding distress. Coastal erosion has intensified in Tharangambadi, Perumalpettai, and Chinnamedu, with the sea steadily eating up the land. Welfare gaps persist as well — destitute fisherwomen often do not receive relief during fishing ban periods, and several families of fishers missing at sea have not received compensation.

Untapped potential

Reviving the historic Tharangambadi railway line, which operated between 1926 and 1986, is emerging as a key demand to boost tourism and connectivity in the region. Social activist Johnson S. said restoring the link — once connecting the coastal town to Mayiladuthurai via Mannambandal, Arupathy, Sembanarkoil and Poraiyar — as a heritage or light rail corridor could spur economic activity.

Despite its rich heritage, tourism remains underdeveloped. Tharangambadi, with its Danish-era legacy, attracts 600–800 foreign tourists every day, particularly to Ozone Beach, but infrastructure has not kept pace. “Visitors from Sweden, Denmark, and Germany come regularly, but there are no standard hotels and even basic amenities like public toilets,” he said. In Poompuhar too, tourism infrastructure is inadequate. A children’s park lies in disrepair, proposed facilities such as an art gallery have not materialised, and the absence of quality restaurants further diminishes visitor experience.

A long-pending demand for an Industrial Training Institute (ITI) to strengthen local skill development also remains unmet.

A tight contest

Politically, Poompuhar is poised for a close contest. In the previous election, Nivedha M. Murugan of the DMK secured won by a narrow margin of 3,299 votes. He is seeking re-election while the AIADMK’s S. Pownraj represents the NDA alliance. Both candidates belong to the Most Backward Classes (MBC), making community equations particularly significant.

Mr. Pownraj is perceived as having strong grassroots connect and began campaign months in advance. The AIADMK has attempted to consolidate support among fishing communities by inducting Kaliyammal P., a former Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) candidate who had polled nearly 10,000 votes in the constituency. However, the NTK has fielded Ilaya Nakulan, also from the fishing community, potentially splitting this vote base.

On the DMK side, Mr. Murugan is expected to retain his core support, including minority voters, and benefit from incumbency networks. With newer players also in the fray, their vote share could prove decisive in what is expected to be a tightly fought election. As in the past, the outcome hinges on a narrow margin, reflecting both the constituency’s competitive political landscape and its unresolved developmental challenges.

Published – March 29, 2026 09:09 pm IST