Chennai , 28 April (HS): Just days after the conclusion of polling in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay made a high-profile early morning visit to the revered Tiruchendur Murugan Temple, attracting large crowds of devotees and supporters.

Vijay reached Madurai close to midnight from Chennai by a private flight and travelled by road to Tiruchendur, where he participated in the Viswaroopa Darshan at dawn, one of the most auspicious rituals dedicated to Lord Murugan.

Dressed in a traditional silk dhoti, he offered prayers across several shrines within the temple complex, including those dedicated to Murugan, Valli, Deivanai, Shanmugar, Dakshinamurthy, Perumal and Chatur Samhara Moorthy, as temple authorities accorded him a ceremonial welcome.

The visit soon turned into a major public attraction, with devotees thronging the temple premises from the early hours to catch a glimpse of the actor-politician, underscoring his enduring popularity beyond cinema.

The trip comes at a politically significant moment for Vijay, who recently launched his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), and contested the Assembly elections from Perambur and Tiruchy East constituencies. Following an intense campaign, he has been holding internal consultations with party leaders after polling concluded.

Even during his late-night arrival in Madurai, hundreds of fans and party workers assembled at the airport, highlighting his sustained mass appeal and growing political footprint in the state.

Senior party functionaries, including TVK General Secretary Anand and Root Productions Chairman Jagadeesh, accompanied him during the visit, signalling that the trip also had organisational undertones.

After completing the darshan, Vijay left for Thoothukudi airport to return to Chennai, as political observers continue to watch his next moves closely in the post-election phase.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman