Thousands Gather To See Vijay At Velankanni Church Ahead of Counting - Watch

As Tamil Nadu braces for the assembly election results on 4 May, the atmosphere has reached a fever pitch. Even as the countdown for the D-Day is on, actor-turned-politician Vijay, the superstar actor and chief of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), is on a spiritual tour, drawing massive crowds.

Following visits to the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple in Maharashtra and the Tiruchendur Murugan Temple, rumours circulated that Vijay would visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health in Velankanni and the Nagore Dargah on Saturday.

The speculation was enough to trigger a massive gathering at the historic church. Footage emerging online depicts thousands of fans thronging the premises, many with mobile phones poised to capture the actor's arrival. The situation escalated when supporters began loudly chanting "TVK" inside the sanctuary, forcing church authorities to intervene.

Officials were heard requesting the crowd to maintain decorum and respect the sanctity of the space as Mass was scheduled to begin.

This incident follows similar criticism during the Madurai Chithirai festival, where fans were accused of disrupting religious proceedings. Public reaction online has been sharp, with many condemning the lack of "civic sense" displayed by the TVK cadres.

However, latest reports say that Vijay's trip is cancelled.

A Shifting Electoral Landscape
While fans focus on the superstar, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has been quietly streamlining the logistics for the upcoming count. Data reveals a significant consolidation of counting centres:

2016: 81 centres (frequently utilising smaller school buildings).

2026: 62 centres.

Officials attribute this decline to a strategic shift toward larger college campuses. These venues offer superior infrastructure and security, allowing the ECI to manage multiple constituencies under a single roof more efficiently than the decentralised school-based model of previous decades.

High Stakes for TVK
This election marks a pivotal moment for Vijay, who contested without forming alliances with major state or central blocs. After an intensive campaign ahead of the 23 April polling day, the "Thalapathy" of Tamil cinema is now testing his political mettle.

His transition to full-time politics has not been without hiccups in his primary career. His final film, Jana Nayagan, directed by H. Vinoth, faced significant hurdles. Originally slated for a January release, it was delayed by CBFC certification issues before being hit by a high-definition online leak on 9 April. Despite nine arrests made in connection with the piracy, the leak cast a shadow over what was intended to be a cinematic swansong.

Whether Vijay's immense popularity on screen translates into seats in the assembly remains the defining question of the 2026 Tamil Nadu elections.