CHENNAI: They were quite active in their respective neighbourhoods, planting a sapling, helping someone tackle the intricate government machinery, or raising their voices against injustice. Now, they are in the fray for the posts of councillors in Greater Chennai Corporation.
A M Kamaraj, brother of Vanigar Sangam president A M Vikramaraja, may not be well known in political circles or even in his own party, but is extremely familiar to residents of ward 138 in Virugambakkam. With 13 years of social service behind him including providing free food on Saturdays, setting up free computer and tailoring classes for hundreds of students, helping set up businesses for more than 100 people in the area and constructing public toilets, the 42-year-old has been the go-to man for people in the area. He will now fight to represent them in the corporation on an AIADMK ticket.
Like him, several social activists, workers and party functionaries who have been running non-profit organisations and helping people hope to take their activities to a larger audience.
Ganesh Kumar of Mogappair, an alumnus of IIT Bombay who is a former engineering college teacher, has been counselling students, providing free tuition and over the years has planted more than 30,000 palm seedlings in the neighbourhood. “I have been an active participant of various state level protests and joined Anna Hazare’s ‘India against corruption’ movement. In 2018, I decided to join active politics and worked with Naam Tamizhar Katchi. During the 2021 assembly poll, I stood for the MLA post and secured 20,000 votes,” he said.
In ward 76, that covers areas such as Pattalam and Demellows Road in North chennai, K Priyadarshini, an independent candidate, has not just helped improve education facilities in corporation schools but also set up centres that helped children focus on sports to stay away from addiction. “I worked for an NGO named Kaigailai Uyarthuvom started by a person named Lokeshwaran. Every time we meet officials with local issues such as unhygienic public toilets, lack of drains or water-logging, the officials don’t take us seriously. So I thought if I become a councillor, the officials will listen and I can make changes here that will impact thousands of lives,” she said.
In ward 173 of Adyar, long time activist and social worker Meera Ravikumar, and in 174, Kamakshi Subramanian, who is 94 years old and a long-time activist, are contesting.
