Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay is set to lead a 40-kilometre roadshow in Dharapuram on Sunday, 5 October 2026, rallying support for Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) candidate Sathyabama ahead of the 6 October Assembly bypoll. The procession, stretching from Dharapuram to Mulanur, marks his second campaign visit to the constituency as parties scramble for votes in the final hours before the 6 pm canvassing deadline.

CM's Route and Arrival Plan

Vijay is scheduled to fly from Chennai to Coimbatore before travelling by helicopter to a helipad prepared at Maruthi Nagar in Dharapuram, where he is expected to land at 11 am. From there, he will board a campaign van and head to the Udumalai roundabout junction, approximately two kilometres away, to begin the procession.

The roadshow will pass through the Periyar statue junction, Five Roads junction, and Meenakshipuram, before continuing through Kulathupalayam, Karaiyur, and Mulanur, with the route also covering the Vanjiamman temple area. After completing the campaign drive, Vijay will retrace the same route back to Maruthi Nagar, then depart by helicopter to Coimbatore and fly back to Chennai.

Security and Logistical Preparations

Authorities have reinforced security arrangements along the entire roadshow corridor ahead of the Chief Minister's visit. Barricades have been installed on both sides of the roads to allow the public to watch the procession safely. Coimbatore West Zone Inspector General of Police Ramya Bharathi personally inspected the helipad at Maruthi Nagar as part of the preparation exercise, accompanied by Tiruppur Superintendent of Police Shruti Singh, along with officials from the Revenue and Public Works departments.

A Five-Cornered Contest in a Reserved Seat

The Dharapuram constituency, a reserved seat in Tiruppur district, is witnessing a five-party contest involving TVK, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), Naam Tamilar Katchi, and the Communist Party. In total, 22 candidates — including party nominees and independents — are in the fray, making this one of the more competitive bypoll contests in the state.

Senior leaders from all parties and their alliance partners have been actively crisscrossing the constituency day and night, intensifying ground outreach as the campaign window closes. Polling is scheduled for Tuesday, 7 October 2026.

What This Bypoll Signals

The Dharapuram bypoll is being closely watched as an early electoral test for Chief Minister Vijay's TVK, a party that is still building its organisational presence across Tamil Nadu. A strong performance here could reinforce TVK's position in the crowded Tamil Nadu political landscape, while the simultaneous presence of DMK, AIADMK, and Naam Tamilar Katchi ensures no vote is easy. The result, expected shortly after polling closes, will offer a read on constituency-level sentiment ahead of the broader state electoral cycle.