Vijay is holding a roadshow in Madurantakam ahead of the October 6 elections

TVK President and Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay holds a roadshow ahead of the Madurantakam by-election on Friday (October 2, 2026). | Photo credit: B. Velankanni Raj

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Friday (October 2, 2026) held a massive roadshow in Madurantakam (Reserved) Assembly constituency in Chengalpattu district, about 80 km from Chennai, where by-elections are scheduled on October 6.

Campaigning for TVK candidate Maragatham Kumaravel, Mr. Vijay started his roadshow at Mamandur on GST Road around 2.30 pm. Fans and well-wishers flocked in large numbers along the entire route of the Chief Minister’s cavalcade. During his four-and-a-half-hour roadshow, Mr. Vijay visited 40 villages. His cavalcade passed through Karunguzhi, Ayyanar Temple Junction, Mocheri, Thandalam, Perumbakkam, Sempoondi, Elapakkam, Kil Athipakka and Melmaruvathur Adiparasakthi Temple Junction before culminating at Therady Street in Madurantakam.

Along the way, he stopped for tea at a shop and interacted with the locals at some points.

Elected from the constituency on an AIADMK ticket, Maragatham Kumaravel resigned from the assembly on May 25 and then joined the TVK, less than a month after the assembly election results were declared, prompting a by-election.

Despite the hot and muggy conditions, fans and well-wishers lined up at GST Road since noon to catch a glimpse of their tinsel hero-turned-politician. Perched atop his campaign van alongside the TVK candidate, Mr. Vijay waved to his supporters at every junction and received gifts and letters even as his supporters showered him with cards and flowers. On Melavalampettai, supporters presented him with a spear, a scepter and a bronze statue of Lord Murugan.

Mahalakshmi, a second-year BCA student, was among the large number of starry-eyed youngsters who gathered along the road. Barely 18, she has just applied to be included in the electoral rolls and will not be able to vote in the by-election. “I’m here to catch a glimpse of him. I might vote for him next time I see him perform. But I believe he’ll do a good job,” she said with a smile.

Among the crowd, Mohammed Moinul, a young tailor from West Bengal, was seen standing with a TVK flag in one hand and a phone in the other. When asked what attracted him to the place, he replied: “Joyful madness”.

While the entire stretch of the GST road comprising Madurantakam was riddled with traffic jams since morning, the situation escalated during the roadshow. The police found it difficult to control the crowd, which took position on both sides of the road, slowing down traffic considerably. Although temporary metal barriers were placed along the entire route, it was not difficult for supporters to overcome them. It took more than an hour for the congestion to clear, although the cavalcade passed a certain point.

Published – 02 Oct 2026 20:46 IST