What PM Modi’s Chennai and Puducherry campaign means ahead of polls?

Chennai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to intensify the National Democratic Alliance’s election campaign in southern India with a two-day visit to Chennai and Puducherry starting April 3, ahead of the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory.

Modi is expected to arrive at Chennai International Airport on Friday afternoon and proceed directly to Puducherry, where he will address a major public rally. The event is aimed at mobilising support for candidates of the Bharatiya Janata Party and its alliance partners ahead of polling scheduled on April 9 in Puducherry.

After the rally, the Prime Minister is scheduled to return to Chennai later in the evening. Authorities, including the Greater Chennai City Police, have made extensive security arrangements for the visit, with multiple layers of security, traffic diversions and restrictions expected across key areas to ensure smooth movement and public safety.

On April 4, Modi will hold a closed-door interaction in Chennai with around 100 party functionaries, grassroots organisers and key stakeholders. The meeting is expected to focus on strengthening booth-level mobilisation and refining campaign strategies as Tamil Nadu prepares for polling on April 23.

Later in the day, the Prime Minister will participate in an election campaign event in support of the NDA candidate in Mylapore, a key constituency in Chennai. A roadshow is also being planned, with areas such as T Nagar under consideration, although the final route has not yet been confirmed.

The visit is seen as a crucial effort by the BJP leadership to strengthen its presence in Tamil Nadu, where it is contesting as part of a broader alliance, while also reinforcing its campaign in Puducherry. The back-to-back engagements highlight the party’s focus on expanding its footprint in the southern region ahead of the elections.