Observing the Constituency: Katchatheevu and Fishermen’s Concerns Take Center Stage in Nagapattinam Politics
Chennai, April 15( IANS) – With the recent focus on the Katchatheevu island issue by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tamil Nadu is seeing increased political activity with allegations and counter-allegations across party lines. The Nagapatnam Lok Sabha constituency is particularly buzzing with discussions on this topic.
The INDIA bloc has fielded CPI leader V. Selvaraj against AIADMK’s Surjeet Sankar and BJP’s S.G.M. Ramesh in the Nagapattinam Lok Sabha constituency. The issue of fishermen’s rights is a central topic in the region with a significant coastal area.
As of January 1, over 124 Tamil Nadu fishermen have been arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy, along with the confiscation of more than 20 mechanised boats. The Nagapattinam fishing hamlet boasts the largest number of mechanised boats in the state.
Farming in the Cauvery Delta region is a major occupation for the constituency’s residents, who face water supply challenges due to issues with water flow from the Cauvery River. The construction of the Mekedatu dam in Karnataka has raised concerns about reduced water availability.
The 2019 Lok Sabha elections saw CPI candidate M. Selvarasu win by a substantial margin. This year, the political landscape has shifted with the Assembly segment wins by VCK, DMK, CPI, and CPI-M being part of the INDIA bloc, setting the stage for a competitive Lok Sabha election.
