Political parties eye Madurai to boost presence in southern districts of T.N. ahead of Assembly polls

Madurai, being the gateway to the southern districts of Tamil Nadu, has become a focal point for political parties, with many holding conferences in the ‘Temple City’ ahead of the State Assembly election scheduled for the summer of 2026.

Ever since the CPI(M) national conference was held in the city in April 2025, several political parties have chosen Madurai district for their meetings.

The ruling DMK held its general council meeting on June 1, during which party president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin addressed the leaders.

This was closely followed by meetings of BJP district- and block-level leaders, which were addressed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

In the same month, in June, Hindu Munnani, backed by the BJP, organised a massive conference of devotees of Lord Murugan.

Within a few weeks, Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) chief coordinator Seeman organised a conference, demanding the retrieval of grazing land for cattle in the far-off Virathanur in Madurai district in July

Now, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder Vijay is scheduled to address thousands of cadres and supporters at the second State conference of the party at Parapathi, in the southern end of Madurai district, bordering Virudhunagar district, on Thursday (August 21) evening.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami had, meanwhile, visited at least five districts in the south during his State-wide tour ahead of the Assembly poll. The party has planned his Madurai leg of the campaign in the coming months.