Tirupur: The spinning cluster in and around Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu accounts for more than 50 percent of India's total spinning capacity.
The region mainly caters to the knitwear export units in Tirupur. But an unprecedented increase in the prices of cotton in the past two years and an abysmal power situation in the state has crippled the industries here.
It was year 2005-2006 when the knitwear city of Tirupur registered its biggest business growth. So the spinners in this region went for ambitious capacity addition. Some even tripled their capacity. But they did not anticipate the economic downturn.
It started with the opening up of cotton exports in 2007 which pushed up the prices of the raw material and in turn their cost of yarn production. As the West went into recession, orders for the spinners dropped. But then, there was even bigger shock in the form of an abysmal power situation in the state.
For some time now, businessmen in this spinning cluster of Dindigul,Tirupur and Coimbatore felt they have been a neglected lot. So some of them decided to take a plunge themselves into politics. And then they found the best platform to launch their political ambitions. Playing the caste card.
Kongunadu Munnetra Peravai means a party for the development of this particular region. Just two months after formation, the party has managed considerable eyeballs. While a win in their debut might be a distant dream, the two factors that have struck a chord for them are understanding the real pulse of the region and speaking the same caste language.
Chairman of Best Spinning Mills Best Ramasamy says: "In another six months if the same electricity situation continues, many spinners might be wiped off. But why are we treated like second-class citizens. Multi-national companies in Chennai get 24-hour power at subsidised prices. But our own businesses are ignored."
This spinning cluster accounts for more than 50% of total yarn spun in India. And the feel of betrayal for the industrialists here is palpable.
K Vinayakam, managing sirector of SCM Textile Spinners says: "There is a lot of anger against any government that would have been in power. But where they went wrong is poor planning. They should now look at improving the overall development. First 2012 and then 2020. That should be the idea not something that leaves us in the lurch like we are now."
It's an industry that employs more than 2 lakh people in the region and feeds the garment units that bring in more than 7500 crore rupees as exports.
But now a lack of vision and an indifferent approach to growth in the region has dampened the spirits of the people here. Whether that anger reflects in the voting pattern this election will be a interesting aspect to look at.