TIRUCHY: In the final leg of campaigning in Tiruchy (East) constituency, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president C Joseph Vijay chose symbolism over speech. During a near two-hour roadshow on Sunday, the TVK chief did not deliver any speech. Instead, he sent out a secular message by visiting a church, mosque and a temple in a constituency where minority votes are considered significant.
Vijay landed at the Tiruchy international airport at 3.10 pm, and began his roadshow shortly after in an open-vehicle, covering key stretches including Airport Road, Wireless Road, K K Nagar, Khajamalai, Kozhipannai Road and Kottapattu before returning to the airport by 5.30 pm.
Vijay first visited the St Antony’s Church on Wireless Road, and offered prayers, crawling on his knees along the aisle.
He later met the parish priest briefly before proceeding to the Noorul Hudha Mosque in K K Nagar, where he offered prayers and sought blessings from the clerics.
His final stop was the Pachanachiyamman temple in Kottapattu. Here, Vijay prostrated before the deity.
In a notable moment, he interacted with a special child from a Muslim family, who was present on the temple premises along with her parents.
Despite the absence of a speech, the roadshow drew considerable crowds across locations.
At K K Nagar bus stop, TVK cadre welcomed Vijay with a massive garland hoisted using an earthmover.
Supporters lined the roads even as the temperature hovered around 39°C, with many waiting for hours to catch a glimpse of the actor-turned-politician.
The Tiruchy city police had imposed traffic restrictions to manage the crowds, leading to congestion in several parts, including K K Nagar, Khajamalai, Wireless Road and Thendral Nagar. The congestion, however, eased shortly after Vijay left.