alcoholism is rampant every elections politicians come and wave to us from their cars as they pass by chennai at a booth in nearby stalin nagar the aiadmk polling agent sits right at the table to everyone checking or getting the poll slip he says if you want to live here you vote for us first lanse garden slum was evicted no one has ever set foot in our slum says nanjappan who runs a cycle repair shop on the cooums bank in gandhi nagar and indira nagar slums on the banks of the cooum between ripon buildings and fort st george water is the main issue most of the men claim allegiance to the ruling party they have rented them out and are living here nanjappan says even for the polls the ruling party men ate all the biriyani mutton and chicken from rs 300 rent has been hiked to at least rs 1000 and for homes without individual toilets drinking water comes in public taps but we have to pay for every pot in these slums dmks one rupee rice has had no takers they did not give even a water packet to us said kalyani a resident of the slum we are next says her son there are about 500 families in the slum who are resigned to being evicted to distant chemmancheri the opposition is working overtime to influence the slum dwellers in this dmk bastion we will continue to live here said arumugam a rickshaw puller the rents have hit the roof in slums as well we live in fear as we could be evicted anytime after the elections says kannamma an elderly woman the chetpet slum was waking from slumber as polling began at 7 am rowdyism is a menace for 40 years governments have been talking about eviction we live in perpetual fear we have to spend rs 50 to rs 100 on water said women from the slums who came to vote those who own four or five houses in the slums own the public tap and tenants have to pay for water it is nothing new they slum dwellers are certain to be evicted as the dmk has been trying to push through the elevated expressway port corridor project the men seemed more interested in beedis than voting while the women were beginning their chores officers have come and photographed us we are helpless says an elderly woman who did not wish to be named as usual the day before election the poll agents distributed slips and some cash to family heads seeking votes most of the hut dwellers here have houses in slum tenements