For this man who has held the centre stage in Indian politics for years, the whole world is an oyster. He has earned praise from some of the most prominent world leaders and institutions for his acumen as a finance minister. Lately even in his new job as the Home Minister, he has certainly overcome the miserable perception his predecessor had left about the Ministry and its capabilities. He is hailed as the Champion of economic reforms and liberalization, which has unleashed India as an economic power in the world.

Such high testimonials for anyone should have ensured a smooth sailing in an election. But for P.Chidambaram, the man the middle class India swoons over, it is all sweat and toil as he criss crosses his constituency, Sivaganga in the southern part of Tamil Nadu.

�For all the important positions he has held at the Central Government for all these years, he should not have been seen here, pulling up his dhoti and huffing and puffing his way through villages for the last so many weeks. He should have been campaigning all over the country for other candidates�, says Muthulinga Nadar, a businessman in Karaikudi, the heart of Chettinad region, from where the suave Home Minister and former Finance Minister hails.

The reason for him having to work his sweat out and toil day and night is not difficult to find. Chidambaram may not believe in the adage, �Charity begins at home�. Having been hailed as the man who has been responsible for transforming many parts of the country, he has been singularly lacking in similar enthusiasm and effort to transform his own constituency, which he has represented for 20 years and in six Lok sabhas, since 1984, except when he lost in 1999.

�What has he done to this constituency?� is the most oft-heard question one asks across the length and breadth of his constituency, from everyone, including the supporters of Congress and DMK. Nadar, a Congress supporter and who has voted for PC, all along, is also disgusted. �He comes during elections, and after that, when he comes, he pulls up the window screen of his SUV and speeds past everyone�, he remarks with bitterness.

One cannot blame Nadar and his ilk for the anger and frustration they feel. Driving from Madurai to Sivaganga, one can visibly see the difference, as one enters the constituency. Suddenly the landscape is bare, there are no industries or even evidence of agriculture activities. Except for some educational institutions, even towns like Sivaganga and Karaikudi, the two biggest towns in the constituency, are a far cry from the prosperous looking towns in other parts of Tamil Nadu, be it Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, or even smallers towns dotting the Tamil Nadu map, like Cuddalore, even Chidambaram (the town), not to mention Pollachi and Sriperumbudur.

The roads and infrastructure in Sivaganga is pathetic, there are no evident signs of wealth creation or worse employment generation across the constituency. �He has opened a lot of ATMs and Bank branches, but what do we people like us do, with it? If we go to these banks, they ask for surety in the form of houses. If we had our own house and could provide surety, why would we be doing what we are and approach those banks�, says Babu, an auto driver in Sivaganga, who has decided to vote against Chidambaram, despite having been a Congress supporter all along.

The only sign of some promising economic activity in the constituency one could see was the renovation of a magnificent Chettinad style mansion, in Chidambaram�s birth place, Kanadu Kathan, which is being converted into a three star hotel resort. Many other such magnificent mansions are awaiting conversion which could probably boost tourism activities.

No wonder, Chidambaram is fighting one of his toughest battle (he had lost in 1999), on his home turf, despite all the praise he is showered with outside his constituency. His AIADMK opponent R.S.Rajakannappan, a prodigal who has returned to the party only recently, after having strayed to the DMK, is a local man, and people hope he would atleast do something for the constituency, to match the development happening all over Tamil Nadu.

But the hope for Chidambaram lies in the loyal DMK cadre, and supporters. It is their touching faith in their �Kalaignar�(M.Karunanidhi), who has given the poor, houses, TV, cheap rice and many other schemes, which will ensure that they vote for the �kootam�( alliance) of DMK-Congress. �This house was given to us by Kalaignar, and we were very happy, and now he has given us TV too�, says Rekha, who lives with her husband, daughter and a son in one of the 100 houses constructed by DMK government 11 years back, as part of their scheme to bring about social harmony.

If Chidambaram has a serious problem and is staring at the unthinkable, his colleague in the Cabinet, a couple of hundred kms away, Mani Shankar Aiyar is also being made to sweat and keep his fingers crossed. He is slightly better off than his not-too-good friend, Chidambaram, as he faces the people�s ire, not for not having done any work for the constituency, but for being inaccessible. Mani himself confesses to this misdemeanour of his in the last five years. �I agree I have not been very accessible�, he told this columnist, after a hectic day of campaigning, a day before it drew to a close.

On the other hand, even Mani�s critics on the question of accessibility however admit that he has done work for the constituency, and has improved its position. It is evident too, as Mayiladuthurai which was just a one horse town in 1991, when he was first elected, has grown beyond recognition, a far cry from the pathetic facilities in Sivaganga.

Mani�s problems however lie in some sort of a sympathy working in favour of his AIADMK opponent, O.S.Manian, who has lost twice in the past. �He has lost twice, and people feel he should also be given a chance�, says Pandian, a DMK worker, who also is upset that his village has not got the free TV sets as well gas connection.

Mani�s other problem is a Muslim candidate a rebel from the Tamil Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam, Jawaharullah, who is poised to take away a significant part of the muslim votes, which number about 1.25 lakh( according to Mani only 70,000). �He has captured the imagination of a section of muslims, and that will hurt Mani�, says Shamsuddin, a Butcher in Kuttalam, 10 kms away from Mayiladuthurai, who had come to attend Mani�s roadside meeting.

He however is comforted by the thought that the Viduthalai Chirethegal Katchi (VCK) an outfit of militant dalits led by Thol Thirumavalavan, is strong in parts of his constituencies, and is working strongly for him, and is hopeful of cutting into the AIADMK vote base.