TIRUCHY: For many in Tiruchy, Saturday’s rally was their first chance to see Vijay not as a film star but as a politician. By 9 am – well before the police-allotted slot of 10.30 am to 11 am – Gen Z students, families, women with children and first-time voters had crowded the venue, braving the sultry heat for more than five hours until Vijay reached Marakkadai at 2.45 pm.
The wait was personal for many. “I have been watching Vijay since the 90s, but this is the first time I came with my family. We always voted for the AIADMK for Amma, but this time my daughter, a first-time voter, and I will stand for hours if needed to see him,” said K Vimala (40) from Mannachanalur.
Unlike most TN rallies where parties ferry supporters, those present said they came on their own. “We organised 20 people from our village and pooled money to be here. We did not buy them food or liquor. He deserves a chance,” said S Gokul from Mutharasanallur, a former DMK cadre. Others recalled being part of Vijay fan clubs that once ran welfare activities, which they said are now being carried forward under the party banner.
For younger voters, the mood went beyond fandom to political frustration. “The second I saw Vijay anna, I couldn’t stop crying. I want to vote for TVK because I don’t want one family to rule again,” said S Girija, a college student. Many like her described Vijay as “clean” and “different from regular politicians”, hoping he would offer a break from dynastic politics and money-driven rallies. Magdalen Eva from EB Road said her five-year-old daughter had pestered her all morning to attend.
The massive turnout, however, exposed poor arrangements. With no shade or water, several people fainted. Many climbed trees and unsafe buildings for a better view, forcing EB officials to cut power as a precaution. A snapped cable silenced the loudspeakers, leaving most unable to hear Vijay’s speech after hours of waiting.
Though many left disappointed, the scale and spontaneity of the crowd was striking. In a political culture where rallies are often stage-managed, Saturday’s turnout underscored Vijay’s personal pull, even as sustaining such enthusiasm without a tested party machinery will be his biggest challenge before 2026.