Vijay Faces Backlash After Tragic Stampede at Karur Rally: What Went Wrong?

Tragedy Strikes at Vijay's Rally

In Chennai, actor-turned-politician Vijay is under intense scrutiny following a tragic incident at his rally in Karur, where a stampede resulted in the deaths of 39 individuals and left many others injured. This unfortunate event occurred on Saturday evening at Velusamypuram, where a large crowd had gathered for hours in oppressive heat to see the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader.

As the crowd surged towards Vijay's vehicle, chaos ensued, leading to panic and people collapsing. The fatalities included 13 men, 17 women, and nine children, with over 80 others requiring hospitalization in Karur and surrounding areas.

Vijay's late arrival at the event was followed by his quick departure without addressing the media. Footage from Trichy airport captured him leaving for Chennai, while reporters were denied access at his residence.

His initial public response—a message of sorrow and condolences—was posted on social media nearly two hours after the news of the tragedy broke.

In contrast, the ruling DMK acted swiftly, with Chief Minister M.K. Stalin sending senior ministers to manage rescue efforts and announcing compensation of Rs 10 lakh for each victim's family and Rs 1 lakh for the injured.

CM Stalin remarked, "In our State's history, never have so many people died at a political meeting. We will ensure such a tragedy is not repeated," and later visited Karur to comfort survivors and families.

AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami also visited the Karur Government Hospital to meet grieving families, criticizing the lack of safety measures. He stated, "The government and police must have assessed the crowd and ensured proper arrangements. That was not done."

This incident has raised serious questions about the organization of TVK, which has been criticized for relying on fan clubs instead of a trained team since its inception in 2024. At the rally, Vijay's team struggled to distribute water bottles as attendees fainted.

Authorities confirmed that TVK's rally request had estimated only 10,000 attendees, yet the actual crowd far exceeded that number. Karur Police have initiated action against a local TVK official for safety violations and are expected to summon Vijay for questioning soon.

Political analysts suggest that this incident has significantly altered the narrative surrounding Vijay's political career, transforming what was meant to be a celebratory event into a critical test of his leadership and responsibility for public safety during emergencies.