A Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) functionary climbed 1,017 steps of a temple on her knees to celebrate C. Joseph Vijay becoming Chief Minister [1].
The act highlights the intense personal devotion and intersection of faith and politics among supporters of the TVK party in Tamil Nadu.
Mohanasundari, 21, is a party functionary from Mettupatti village [1]. She performed the ascent at the Ayyarmalai Rathinagireeswarar temple located in the Karur district [1]. The climb was the culmination of a specific pledge she made regarding the political future of her leader [1].
According to reports, Mohanasundari had vowed to undertake a three-day fast and climb the temple steps on her knees if C. Joseph Vijay assumed the top post in the state [1]. Following the announcement that he would become Chief Minister, she carried out the physical challenge [1].
She navigated the 1,017 steps [1] to reach the shrine. The gesture has drawn significant attention as a display of loyalty to the party leadership, a common phenomenon in the region's political culture where cinema and governance often overlap.
Local observers noted the physical toll of the three-day fast [1] and the subsequent climb. The event took place in the Karur district of Tamil Nadu, where the Ayyarmalai Rathinagireeswarar temple serves as a site for religious vows and pilgrimage [1].
“Climbed 1,017 steps of the Ayyarmalai Rathinagireeswarar temple on her knees”
This event illustrates the 'superstar' nature of politics in Tamil Nadu, where political leaders often command a level of devotion akin to religious veneration. The willingness of a young supporter to undergo physical hardship—combining a multi-day fast with a grueling ascent—reflects how the TVK party leverages personal charisma to mobilize its base.
