Published Oct 16, 2026 | 6:38 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 16, 2026 | 6:38 PM
CM Vijay in Coimbatore. (X/CMO Tamil Nadu)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s planned visit to Thrissur in Kerala was cancelled due to heavy rain in Coimbatore on Friday.
Vijay, who was in the border city to attend a government event, was scheduled to travel to Thrissur to attend a Navaratri event at the residence of Kalyan Jewellers owner TS Kalyanaraman.
Speaking to reporters in Thrissur, Kalyanaraman said the Chief Minister had cancelled his visit due to the rain and would visit on another day.
A dedicated helipad had been set up in Coimbatore, and two helicopters were arranged for Vijay’s proposed journey to Thrissur. But then came the rain.
In Coimbatore, Vijay inaugurated the Rs 301.71-crore ‘Periyar Arivulagam’ and Science Centre at Gandhipuram. A sum of Rs 50 crore had been set aside for books alone at the library.
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister also unveiled a statue of Thanthai Periyar at the seven-acre campus.
The Chief Minister, who arrived at the Coimbatore airport by a special flight, also held a roadshow on Avinashi Road to Gandhipuram, covering the 11.4-km stretch to Gandhipuram.
MK Stalin, Vijay’s predecessor, had laid the foundation stone for the library, which houses over 1.25 lakh books, a digital library, and a dedicated children’s section.
Hours before the inauguration by Vijay, Stalin reminded everyone that the project had been envisioned by the “Dravidian government”.
“What does it matter who opens it? Does the pride lie in inaugurating it? The true pride is in planning and creating something unique. That pride will always remain with the DMK,” Stalin said.
Vijay was scheduled to leave for the Armed Reserve Police grounds in Coimbatore, where a dedicated helipad had been set up, before rain intervened.
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(With inputs from Subash Chandra Bose. Edited by R Rajesh Kumar.)
