Tamil Nadu Chief Minister (CM) and founder of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), C Joseph Vijay on Sunday took his election campaign to the streets of Dharapuram, staging a roadshow in support of party candidate P Sathyabhama ahead of the bypoll scheduled for October 6, 2026. During the campaign, he took aim at the DMK over derogatory remarks directed at women, warning that personal attacks and lewd comments had crossed the line.

He said he would not remain silent if women were targeted in political discourse.

Crowds come cheering for Vijay during 40-km roadshow

CM Vijay arrived in Coimbatore by a special flight and then took the helipad to reach Dharapuram in Tiruppur district. Notably, the reserved Assembly constituency is part of the region known for its knitwear industry.

Senior TVK leaders accorded a warm welcome to the Chief Minister on the occasion. He then began his roadshow in his customised caravan at around 1 pm. The campaign procession was planned to cover nearly 40 km and more than 20 public-contact points.

CM Vijay interacted with the voters along the route and also rode a bullock cart for a brief period. Supporters presented him with flowers, garlands, gifts and party towels, while others showered flower petals on him.

During this, the state’s top political leader also offered prayers at the Moolanur Vanjiamman shrine, where he received traditional temple honours. At another point, CM Vijay walked for a short distance, waving to people and TVK supporters gathered along both sides of the road while seeking votes for Dharapuram candidate Sathyabhama.

The planned route included key localities such as Periyar statue junction, Five Roads junction, Meenakshipuram, Kulathupalayam and Karaiyur.

“Won’t stay quiet when it comes to women’s dignity”: CM Vijay

Addressing supporters during the roadshow, CM Vijay criticised the alleged rising personal attacks and crude rhetoric in Tamil Nadu politics. Referring to recent remarks made by DMK supremo and former CM of the state, MK Stalin about Sathyabhama, Vijay accused the Opposition party of resorting to derogatory comments against women.

TVK leaders have termed Stalin’s criticism of the bypoll candidate ‘body-shaming.’ Vijay asserted, “I told you earlier that if you vote for the DMK and certain others, it amounts to endorsing those who speak obscenely about women and humiliate them in public spaces.”

He went on to say that remarks were not merely political rhetoric and questioned the language used against Sathyabhama.

He added, “Speak whatever you want about me. I will take it. But if you dare speak against our sister, or against the mothers, sisters, and daughters of our households, I will not stay quiet.”

During the address, CM Vijay also invoked the legacy of former CM and AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran, saying the state was witnessing a ‘return to the era of MGR.’

Dharapuram Bypoll to be held on Oct 6

Polling in Dharapuram and Madurantakam Assembly constituencies will unfold on October 6, and the votes shall be counted on October 9. The bypolls were necessitated after the then AIADMK MLAs from the two constituencies, K Maragatham Kumaravel and Sathyabhama, resigned as legislators and joined the TVK.

CM Vijay then fielded both former legislators as TVK candidates from their respective constituencies, making the bypolls a significant electoral test for his party.