Vijay campaigns in Madurantakam

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay held a roadshow in Madurantakam on Friday, October 2, 2026, campaigning for TVK candidate Maragatham Kumaravel ahead of the October 6 byelection.

Roadshow route and duration

Mr. Vijay began his roadshow at Mamandur on GST Road around two thirty pm and traversed about three dozen villages over four and a half hours, passing through Karunguzhi, Mocheri, Thandalam, and other locations.

Vijay interacts with locals

Along the route, Chief Minister Vijay stopped to have tea at a shop, interacted with locals at L. Endathur, Kiliyanagar, and Sempoondi, and in Ramapuram village borrowed a tractor from a farmer to drive through a field.

Why the byelection was called

Maragatham Kumaravel, elected from the constituency on AIADMK ticket, resigned from the Assembly on May 25 and then joined the TVK less than a month after the Assembly election results were declared.

Massive crowds line the route

Fans and supporters flocked in large numbers along GST Road since forenoon. Perched atop his campaign van, Mr. Vijay waved at supporters at every junction and received gifts, letters, and flowers including a spear and bronze statuette of Lord Murugan.

Young voter expresses faith

Mahalakshmi, an eighteen-year-old second-year BCA student, had just applied for inclusion in electoral rolls and cannot vote in this byelection. She said, "I am here to catch a glimpse of him. I will perhaps vote for him next time after seeing his performance."

“I am here to catch a glimpse of him. I will perhaps vote for him next time after seeing his performance.”

Traffic chaos on GST Road

The entire stretch of GST Road spanning Madurantakam was dotted with traffic congestion since morning, becoming acute during the roadshow. Police found it difficult to control crowds who crossed temporary metal barricades, and it took more than an hour for congestion to clear.