Stalin's 20-Kilometre Madurai Roadshow Draws Massive Turnout

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin led a 20-kilometre roadshow through Madurai on Saturday, drawing thousands of supporters and marking a significant moment ahead of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general council meeting scheduled in the city after nearly four decades.

The roadshow commenced at Perungudi Junction and traversed key areas including Avaniyapuram, Jaihindpuram, Kalavasal, and New Jail Road. Along the route, Stalin interacted with residents, posed for photographs with children dressed as iconic leaders, and inaugurated several infrastructure projects. Notably, he unveiled a bronze statue of Subbiah Muthu, Madurai’s first mayor and a prominent figure in the city's political history, replacing an older concrete version to honour Muthu's legacy.

Security was heightened with over 2,000 police personnel deployed and drone surveillance implemented to manage the large crowds and ensure safety. The event also saw the inauguration of a ₹50-lakh high truss shade at the Veera Kaliamman temple, funded through MLA P. Moorthy's development fund, and the opening of an under-bridge at TVS Nagar.

Preparations for the roadshow included extensive road repairs and maintenance by the city corporation and state highways department, particularly along major routes like Aruppukottai Main Road. However, the event was not without controversy. Ahead of the roadshow, parts of the Panthalkudi channel, known for garbage dumping and stagnation issues, were hastily concealed with cloth sheets to hide its poor condition. This attempt to mask civic neglect sparked criticism on social media and led to an unscheduled site inspection by Stalin following his event. Accompanied by Minister P. Moorthy and District Collector M.S. Sangeetha, Stalin assessed the situation and instructed swift action to desilt the channel and construct retaining walls to prevent further waste dumping.

The roadshow served as a prelude to the DMK’s general council meeting scheduled for Sunday at Uthangudi, marking the first time in 48 years that the party's highest policy-making body convened in Madurai. The meeting is expected to draw around 7,000 invited party delegates from across Tamil Nadu and will focus on preparations for the 2026 Assembly elections, among other key issues. Open URL