Walking through the narrow, twisting lane of Valiya Kadappuram in Thiruvananthapuram’s new Port ward, the first thing you notice is the many plastic pots sitting outside every house. These pots hold water bought at ₹8 each because the water supply is unreliable. Paniyadima, a 59-year-old local fisherman still going to sea, says, “If the water lorry doesn’t come, there is no water.” This area sits on high land right near the shiny new Vizhinjam International Port, a symbol of huge development but also a reminder of problems that have lasted decades. Despite all growth and grand cranes, residents like Mr. Paniyadima say, “Development is good. We are not against it. But is a good water supply too much to ask?” Francina, another local, needs five pots of water daily, and families with kids sometimes need twice that. Pipes were connected a few years ago, but the water from taps is dirty and “unusable,” she explains with a frown. The upcoming local elections don’t bring joy here. The port is busy with trucks, ships, and containers, but the fisherfolk face old problems: no clean water, no proper waste help, and a shrinking sea to fish from. The Port ward was newly formed by mixing parts of old wards—Kottapuram and Mulloor—making it one of Thiruvananthapuram's biggest wards. In the last election, J. Paniadima, an independent, won the Kottapuram ward, but this time he is the Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) candidate in Port ward. Opposition includes Reena Stansilas (United Democratic Front) and Mukkola G. Prabhakaran (National Democratic Alliance). Nearby Vizhinjam ward has tough fights too, with candidates from UDF, LDF, and NDA ready to battle it out. A big worry here is coastal erosion, which worsened after the port’s construction by the Adani Group. In 2022, locals led by the Latin Archdiocese protested to stop the port, blaming it for destroying beaches and harming their fishing jobs. The southern district of Thiruvananthapuram stretches 78 km along the sea and is one of Kerala’s most vulnerable coasts. Pollution also struck the sea when a ship capsized, dumping plastic pellets that washed onshore, adding to the distress. Angelis, 72, who now runs a small shop, sums up the despair: "All political parties say that they will bring us water. The issue has persisted for years. We are still waiting for the water." As elections near, questions loom large. Will the candidates solve these age-old problems or will the fisherfolk’s hopes sink like their eroding beaches? The answer is awaited eagerly under the booming shadow of Vizhinjam Port.