TVK chief Vijay supporters chant slogans inside church in Velankanni

TRICHY: Hundreds of fans of actor Vijay and supporters of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam entered the Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health in the early hours of Saturday and raised “TVK, TVK” slogans in front of the altar. Velankanni saw large crowds of Vijay’s fans and TVK cadres amid speculation that the party president would visit the church and the Nagore Dargah on Saturday. The speculation followed his recent visits to the Tiruchendur Murugan Temple and the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple. As the basilica doors opened around 5 am, several supporters entered with their mobile phones switched on and raised slogans in the nave area in front of the altar.

Their actions briefly delayed the scheduled Mass. Mobile phone use and photography are strictly prohibited inside the basilica, except for members of the press. Priests, taken aback by the sudden influx and sloganeering, asked the supporters to remain calm, avoid disrupting the Holy Mass, and not block other devotees. The supporters later dispersed and left the premises. It was later confirmed that Vijay would not be visiting Velankanni or Nagore during the day. Supporters who had been waiting outside the church since the previous night left disappointed.