The five-foot long bomb, linked to a 50-metre wire and four detonators and batteries, was found under a bridge at Alampatti, 30 km from Madurai. The bomb weighs seven kilograms.
The senior BJP leader launched Phase 2 of his yatra this morning from Madurai and was meant to arrive in Kerala via Srivilliputhur Tenkasi and Shencottah. His route has now been changed.
The first phase of his tour which covered parts of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh ended before Diwali.
In 1998, a series of blasts hit Coimbatore hours before Mr Advani was to address an election rally. 58 people were killed and over 200 injured.
Mr Advani has dedicated his Jan Chetan Yatra to promoting public awareness for "good governance" and to heighten the corruption within the government.
In the state elections on May, the BJP did not win a single seat. So yesterday in Madurai, Mr Advani was quick to focus on a local issue - the opposition among villagers to the nuclear plant at Kudankulam. The Prime Minister has asked the state government to help ensure that the two nuclear reactors at the 13,000-crore project become operational as scheduled. Residents of this coastal part of the state say they're not convinced by international assurances that the plant passes all safety tests. Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has so far sided with them, insisting that all work at the project be suspended till a team of experts convinces residents that they are not in danger.
"The Kudankulam power plant is also located near the sea. Commercial considerations or the fact that the contract has been accepted should not override the safety of the people," Mr Advani said.
The senior BJP leader's stand is being interpreted as a strong hint to Jayalalithaa that the BJP and she may have a similar agenda - and enough common ground to explore an alliance ahead of the next general election, scheduled for 2014.
Mr Advani's yatra has been seen - despite his many protests - as his attempt to project himself as the man his party should select as its prime ministerial candidate. The other contender is Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who seems to have a good connect with Jayalalithaa. When Mr Modi held a three-day fast in September, devoted to the promotion of communal harmony, Jayalalithaa sent two representatives. Mr Modi also attended Jayalalithaa's swearing-in ceremony when she took over as the Tamil Nadu chief minister in May.
An attempt to win over Jayalalithaa, therefore, is believed to be high on Mr Advani's undeclared agenda as he moves through her state.
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