Modi’s first stop lands in Madurai district on March 1. He plans a public meeting near the Ring Road. There, he will reveal completed blocks at the Madurai AIIMS campus. Officials expect him to flag off the Madurai-Rameswaram special train service and dedicate other projects to the nation.

BJP State President Nainar Nagendran said Modi is likely to visit the Tiruparankundram temple during the trip. The hilltop shrine, one of Lord Muruga’s six abodes, drew controversy recently. A dispute over Karthigai Deepam lighting pitted the temple against police. The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court allowed the ritual. Police denied permission over law and order fears. Tensions flared between BJP, other Hindu groups and authorities.

Senior BJP leaders M Muruganandam and Raama Sreenivasan are coordinating arrangements for the March 1 visit.

On March 7, Modi travels to Vellore district. He will pray at the Sri Lakshmi Narayani Golden Temple before addressing an NDA rally. The schedule shifted from March 6, reports said.

Modi returns March 11 for events in Tiruchy and Thanjavur districts. Tentative plans call for visits to the Sri Ranganatha Swamy temple in Srirangam and the Brihadeeswarar temple in Thanjavur. He will rally NDA supporters in both spots. Final details await confirmation, BJP sources said.

These outings follow Modi’s kickoff of the NDA campaign two weeks ago. The alliance, led by AIADMK, renewed its partnership with BJP ahead of the polls. Current partners include AIADMK, BJP, Tamil Maanila Congress under G.K. Vasan, PMK led by Anbumani Ramadoss, and smaller outfits like IJK and NJP.

NDA leaders push to widen the coalition. Talks target rejoining of DMDK, founded by late actor-politician Vijayakanth, and Puthiya Tamizhagam of Dr. K. Krishnasamy. The moves aim to challenge the ruling DMK front. That bloc has swept Tamil Nadu elections since 2019 with large margins, hammering AIADMK.

Dravidian parties have alternated power in the state for decades—DMK and AIADMK trading victories. A new factor emerges with actor Vijay’s TVK party. Vijay brands DMK as corrupt and dynastic, BJP as fascist. TVK enters its first election test. Its impact on the vote remains unclear.

The assembly elections loom as a fierce contest. NDA hopes Modi’s star power boosts turnout in key areas. Development pitches, like AIIMS expansions and rail links, underscore the campaign. Temple stops tap into cultural sentiments in the deeply religious state.