Chennai: Ahead of the Tamil Nadu assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the state this Friday, January 23, to address a major National Democratic Alliance (NDA) election rally at Maduranthakam in Chengalpattu district. The visit, seen as a crucial campaign launch for the NDA, will follow a tightly packed three-hour schedule under high-security arrangements.
PM Modi’s Tamil Nadu Visit: Travel Itinerary
According to the released plan, the Prime Minister will depart from Thiruvananthapuram airport in Kerala at 2:15 PM on a special flight and land at Chennai Old Airport. He will then take a helicopter at 2:50 PM to reach a specially prepared helipad in Maduranthakam. Modi is scheduled to address the public meeting from 3:00 PM to 4:15 PM, after which he will return to Chennai airport by 5:00 PM and depart for Delhi on a special flight.
Security Arrangements
Elaborate security measures have been put in place across Chengalpattu district. A team led by Amit Chand Yadav, Additional Director of the Special Protection Group (SPG), has conducted advance inspections of the airport, helipad, and rally venue. A three-day ban on drones and unmanned aerial vehicles has been imposed in the district from January 21 to 23. The Meenambakkam and Guindy areas in Chennai have been declared a ‘red zone’, prohibiting all unmanned flying devices, including helium balloons.
Political Significance
The rally is expected to feature several top NDA leaders on stage, including AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, PMK President Anbumani Ramadoss, Tamil Maanila Congress President G.K. Vasan, IJK founder Pari Vendhar, and Puthiya Needhi Katchi leader John Pandian. The event is viewed as a significant show of strength and unity for the opposition alliance as it gears up to challenge the ruling DMK in the upcoming polls.
With the visit being brief yet highly strategic, BJP and alliance leaders anticipate that Modi’s address could reshape the political narrative in Tamil Nadu.