CM Stalin to Address DMK Western Agents Meet

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Thursday inspected the under-construction Periyar Library and Science Centre in Coimbatore, a landmark project being implemented at an estimated cost of Rs. 300 crore. He will address the DMK Western Region Agents’ Conference in the city this evening as part of preparations for the 2026 Assembly elections. The regional conference is being held at a private college ground along the Coimbatore–Kochi National Highway under the leadership of DMK Western Zone in-charge V. Senthil Balaji. The venue has been readied to accommodate around 1.5 lakh party agents, with arrangements made for drinking water and parking facilities. Preparatory works were supervised by Senthil Balaji and senior functionaries. Drone operations have been banned in areas connected to the Chief Minister’s visit, and the hotel on Avinashi Road where he is staying, along with areas under the Venkatapuram and Neelambur police station limits, have been declared temporary red zones. Stalin arrived in Coimbatore from Chennai by flight this morning and was received at the airport by Senthil Balaji, DMK Deputy General Secretary and Minister M.P. Saminathan, Ministers S. Muthusamy, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi and Kayalvizhi Selvaraj, Mayor Ranganayaki, district secretaries Durai Senthamil Selvan, Thondamuthur Ravi and Thalapathy Murugesan, Advocate Rajiv Gandhi, N. Karthik, Deputy Mayor Vetriselvan, MLA Chandrakumar, former MLAs P. Arunkumar and Chinnaswamy, along with party cadre. He later proceeded to Gandhipuram to inspect the Periyar Library and Science Centre project. Envisioned as a knowledge hub for western Tamil Nadu on the lines of the Anna Centenary Library in Chennai and the Kalaignar Centenary Library in Madurai, the project has an outlay of Rs. 300 crore. Of this, Rs. 245 crore has been allocated for modern construction, Rs. 50 crore for procurement of books and e-books, and Rs. 5 crore for advanced digital infrastructure and high-speed internet facilities. The Chief Minister inspected each floor of the building and reviewed the quality of construction and amenities with officials. He examined the competitive examination wing, the children’s section and the proposed science centre exhibits, and directed officials to expedite the works and open the facility for public and student use within the stipulated timeframe. In the afternoon, Stalin visited the Gandhi Museum at Podanur, witnessed a children’s bhajan programme and planted saplings to stress environmental protection. He will address the Western Region Agents’ Conference at 4 pm and is scheduled to return to Chennai tonight around 8.30 pm.
As part of security arrangements, around 1,300 police personnel have been deployed across Coimbatore city.