TVK Manifesto Committee Gathers Public Demands in Trichy Ahead of 2026 Polls
A high-level committee established by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) to draft its manifesto for the crucial 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly elections conducted a significant visit to Trichy on Monday. The committee engaged with local residents and various organizations, collecting a wide array of public demands that highlight pressing regional issues.
Key Demands: Highway Safety and Second Capital Status
Among the most prominent requests was the urgent development of service roads along the notoriously accident-prone Trichy–Thanjavur national highway. Representatives from the Federation for Retrieval of Trichy Palpannai–Thuvakudi Service Road presented a compelling case, noting that a critical 14.5-kilometer stretch of this highway has been awaiting service roads for over 15 years. Chief organiser Sakthivel strongly alleged that successive governments led by the DMK and AIADMK have consistently failed to address this long-standing demand, resulting in frequent and often fatal accidents on this dangerous route.
In addition to highway safety, the federation pushed for the widening of roads around the congested Palpannai junction to alleviate severe traffic bottlenecks. They formally urged TVK to incorporate these vital infrastructure projects into its upcoming election manifesto. Another major proposal put forward was to declare Trichy as Tamil Nadu's second capital, a move aimed at boosting the city's development and administrative significance within the state.
TVK Leadership Addresses Petitions and Political Allegations
TVK General Secretary for Propaganda and Policy, K G Arunraaj, personally received petitions from multiple groups during the visit. These included associations representing government employees and organizations advocating for total prohibition across Tamil Nadu. Arunraaj used the platform to level serious allegations against the ruling DMK government, claiming that while the DMK receives swift police permissions for its large gatherings, TVK consistently faces unnecessary delays. He asserted that this disparity indicates the ruling party's growing wariness of TVK's rapid political expansion and influence.
Responding to recent accusations made by opposition leader Edappadi K Palaniswami, who alleged corruption against actor and TVK founder Vijay, Arunraaj offered a firm rebuttal. He emphasized that Vijay has never held any public office and criticized Palaniswami's remarks as unfounded. When questioned about whether Vijay might contest from the Trichy East assembly constituency in the future, Arunraaj stated that such decisions would be made by the party leadership at the appropriate time, keeping strategic considerations in mind.
The committee's visit underscores TVK's proactive approach to grassroots engagement as it prepares for the 2026 electoral battle, focusing on local issues like infrastructure, safety, and regional development to shape its political agenda.
