With actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay choosing Tiruchi East as one of the two constituencies to make his electoral debut in Tamil Nadu, the spotlight has turned to the densely populated Assembly segment spread around the city’s most famous landmark: the Rockfort.

The entry of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder has given the central region a chief ministerial candidate after a decade and Tiruchi  city after 15 years. DMK stalwart M. Karunanidhi was the last Chief Minister to represent the region, having won from Tiruvarur in 2011 and 2016, and AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa was elected from Srirangam in the city in 2011.