C. Joseph Vijay, the president of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party, filed his nomination for the Tiruchi East constituency in Tamil Nadu on April 3, 2026. During a campaign meeting at Marakkadai, he criticized both the Union government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the State government led by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) for the ongoing Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) shortage, which he claims has forced many hotels to close and caused significant hardship for residents. Vijay accused the BJP of negligence and the DMK of inaction, questioning the government's commitment to providing a ₹100 subsidy per LPG cylinder. He also highlighted allegations of corruption within the Municipal Administration Department, asserting that a ₹1,000-crore scam has deprived qualified individuals of employment opportunities. Vijay urged voters to reject the DMK government, which he described as ineffective, and promised to establish a government focused on the welfare of the people. He also expressed concern over a recent stampede at his rally and hinted at a conspiracy against him regarding the delayed release of his film 'Jananayagan'. As he campaigned, he interacted with constituents and addressed safety incidents during the event, including an injury to a police officer.