Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president and actor Vijay during the address in Karur on Saturday
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MOORTHY M
In the last couple of weeks, the huge crowd that thronged rallies organised by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president and actor Vijay made major political parties in the State nervous. While everyone thought he had arrived at the political stage, the stampede at Vijay’s Karur rally on Saturday in which around 40 have been estimated dead, is likely to put a brake on Vijay’s fast-rising political career.
Now, the big question is will Vijay be arrested for the stampede? This will be decided after an enquiry commission headed by retired Judge Aruna Jagadeesan gives its report.
On the Karur stampede, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Law and Order, S Davidson Devasirvatham said that a case has been registered. The Karur Town police has registered a case against TVK general secretary N Anand and two others as a sequel to the stampede, says reports.
The party had sought permission stating that around 10,000 people were expected to attend. However, the crowd was huge and it all went out of control. The party underestimated the likely attendance, said a political commentator.
Leaders of all the major parties, including AIADMK and the BJP have been visiting Karur since morning.
The AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi Palaniswami told a media agency that the stampede occurred because of an electric current. Such a campaign was previously held in four districts, and the police should have provided adequate security. “I don’t think that was done. If the government and police had worked well, such lives would not have been lost,” he said.
Large crowd
However, Devasirvatham said adequate security personnel were deployed at the venue. With the large crowd, there was a request to stop the vehicle 50 m ahead of the venue and speak, but this was rejected by the event organisers, he added.
While the social media is filled with condolences messages, many are upset with Vijay leaving to Chennai immediately after the stampede, rather than staying back at Karur and consoling the bereaved families.
Chief Minister MK Stalin, on the other hand, immediately assigned senior ministers M Subramanian, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi and former minister Senthil Balaji to visit the spot and take action immediately.
Further, in the midnight he left by flight to Tiruchi, and from there drove to Karur early morning to meet the families of those killed in the incident and those who are undergoing treatment at various hospitals.
Meanwhile, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday will hear a petition filed by TVK seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation or Special Investigation Team probe into the tragic stampede.
Separately, the SRM Educational Group has pledged to cover the full educational expenses for students from the families of the deceased.
To ensure their studies continue uninterrupted, their fees will be paid directly to the schools and colleges they currently attend, TR Paarivendhar, Chancellor, SRM Institute of Technology, SRM Group
Published on September 28, 2025