Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has arrived in Perundurai for a government function, but the visit comes against the backdrop of an impending by-election in the constituency. The bypoll was necessitated after the AIADMK MLA resigned and joined the ruling TVK. The political significance is hard to miss. TVK remains short of a majority in the Assembly, and the party is looking to consolidate its position after recent bypoll victories that came with relatively modest winning margins. In Erode, Vijay will distribute loans worth ₹1,110 crore to around 4,000 women Self-Help Groups from 13 districts. With bypolls looming, could these official engagements also serve as an opportunity for the TVK to connect with voters on the ground?