Vijay Stops Convoy to Garland MGR Statue as He Kickstarts Bypoll Campaign | Watch

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president C Joseph Vijay on Friday began his campaign for the upcoming Madurantakam Assembly bypoll, stopping his convoy en route to the campaign venue to garland a statue of former Tamil Nadu chief minister and AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran, popularly known as MGR.

Vijay's gesture came as he travelled from Chennai towards Madurantakam for a public meeting in support of the TVK candidate Maragatham Kumaravel. The campaign meeting was scheduled near the Athur toll plaza in the Chengalpattu district.

Vijay pays tribute to MGR on way to campaign

As Vijay's convoy was travelling towards the campaign venue, the TVK chief stopped and garlanded the statue of MGR.

The moment was captured on video and has drawn attention because MGR remains an important figure in Tamil Nadu's political history and is closely associated with the AIADMK, one of the parties contesting the state's electoral landscape.

Vijay then continued towards Madurantakam, where he was scheduled to address supporters ahead of the October 6 bypoll.

5,000 people allowed at Vijay's campaign meeting

The TVK has imposed restrictions on attendance at the Madurantakam campaign event, citing police safety guidelines.

According to the party, only 5,000 people with QR-code entry passes would be allowed into the venue. The campaign was scheduled for around 3 pm on September 25 near the Athur toll plaza in Chengalpattu.

The party also said passes were not issued to pregnant women, children, school students, senior citizens, persons with disabilities and people who were unwell as a safety precaution. Drinking water and medical facilities were arranged at the venue.

Campaign comes ahead of October 6 bypoll

The Madurantakam bypoll is scheduled for October 6, with counting set for October 9.

Vijay is scheduled to campaign in the constituency on September 25 and again on October 2, according to the campaign schedule reported earlier this month. The TVK has fielded Maragatham Kumaravel from Madurantakam.

The constituency is witnessing a contest involving the TVK, DMK, AIADMK, Communist parties and Naam Tamilar Katchi, according to the reported election schedule.

AIADMK questions the bypoll

The campaign comes amid political exchanges over the by-election.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said the bypoll had been “thrust upon” voters and alleged that it resulted from defections. His remarks were reported by PTI and quoted by Hindustan Times. These are political allegations, rather than an independent finding about the circumstances of the bypoll.

Meanwhile, TVK leaders have been campaigning for the party's candidates in the upcoming bypolls. TVK general secretary Aadhav Arjuna recently questioned the DMK government's record on social justice during a meeting of election in-charges and booth agents in Madurantakam.

Safety remains a focus at Vijay's rallies

The restrictions at the Madurantakam event come nearly a year after a deadly crowd crush at a Vijay campaign rally in Karur.

Authorities and the TVK have therefore placed additional emphasis on controlled entry and crowd-management arrangements for the Madurantakam meeting. The party has said that attendance will be limited to people holding passes issued under police guidelines, while medical and drinking-water facilities have been arranged at the venue.

Vijay's convoy stopping to pay tribute to MGR has now become one of the notable moments from the opening phase of his Madurantakam bypoll campaign.