Thalapathy's 92-day 'meet the people' tour: Sea of supporters bring Tiruchirappalli to standstill

TIRUCHIRAPPALLI: TVK president Vijay has started his political campaign from Tiruchirappalli, where Annadurai and MGR started. 'Thalapathy' aims to seize power in Tamil Nadu through a 92-day state tour.

Tiruchirappalli was the place where Annadurai, who founded the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, announced his decision to contest the elections in 1956. It was also here that MGR, who split the DMK and formed the AIADMK, decided to hold the party's first state conference in 1974. Vijay told the sea of supporters that starting in Trichy would be a turning point. “Before going to war, to win the war, warriors used to go to the ancestral temple and worship God. Similarly, before preparing for the democratic war, I have come to meet you,” Vijay said from atop a specially prepared vehicle near the Marakadai MGR statue.

I have heard elders say that it would be good to start some good things from this place. DMK said that if it comes to power, it will subsidize gas cylinders. Did they do it? They said that they would reduce the price of diesel by Rs 3 per liter. Did they do it? They said that they would waive education loans. Did they do it? DMK has not kept its promises. Will you vote for DMK? ‘No,’ the people replied.

4 hours to cover 5 km

It took about 4 hours to cover the first 5 km at the beginning of the tour. The entire route was occupied by crowds hours before. The journey is being carried out with the slogan 'Your Vijay is coming..'.

Vijay is travelling in a campaign bus equipped with advanced cameras, loudspeakers and iron railings to prevent fans from bumping into him. Meanwhile, a fan who had been waiting on top of a building for hours to meet Vijay collapsed. He was shifted to the hospital.