Vijay’s Karur Rally Stampede: 41 Dead, Probe Sought

Dubai/Karur: The political debut of Tamil actor-turned-politician Vijay has been overshadowed by one of Tamil Nadu’s deadliest rally tragedies, as a stampede during his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) rally in Karur left 41 people dead and more than 60 injured.

A leaked letter has revealed that TVK requested a temporary power shutdown during the September 27 event, a move now at the centre of controversy. Officials confirmed receiving the request but claimed it was rejected. Eyewitnesses, however, reported a blackout before Vijay’s arrival, alleging it triggered chaos in the packed crowd.

Competing claims over power cut

The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (EB) confirmed that TVK sought a brief outage “only when the leader is speaking,” citing safety concerns over people climbing rooftops and trees. EB officials said the request was denied and insisted “uninterrupted power supply was provided.” They admitted a brief dimming occurred due to a generator issue.

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Survivors disputed this version. Vinod Kumar, who lost his sister-in-law and her two children, said, “The power went out between 7 and 7:30 pm. The crowd surged forward in the darkness. My sister-in-law and her children died of suffocation.”

Investigations and political fallout

TVK has filed a writ petition in the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court seeking transfer of the probe from state police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), alleging the tragedy was “motivated by DMK and its functionaries.” The plea will be heard on October 3.

The Tamil Nadu government has rejected claims of an official blackout, calling them “false and misleading.” Chief Minister MK Stalin urged restraint on social media and warned against spreading rumours.

Meanwhile, posters condemning Vijay have appeared in Karur, reflecting public anger. Political rivals are sharpening attacks, questioning both TVK’s preparedness and Vijay’s leadership.

Relief measures

The state has announced multiple relief packages:

• Vijay: ₹20 lakh to each victim’s family, ₹2 lakh to the injured.

• CM MK Stalin: ₹10 lakh for the deceased, ₹1 lakh for the injured.

• PM Narendra Modi: ₹2 lakh for families of the deceased, ₹50,000 for the injured through the PM National Relief Fund.

A turning point in Vijay’s political journey

Vijay, 51, popularly known as “Ilaya Thalapathy”, launched TVK in 2024 after announcing his retirement from films. His last movie, Jana Nayagan, is set for release in 2025. Tamil Nadu has a history of film stars turning politicians, from MGR to Jayalalithaa, but not all have succeeded.

The Karur tragedy now threatens to derail Vijay’s early political momentum. What was meant to showcase his crowd-pulling charisma has turned into a humanitarian and political crisis.

As the death toll climbs and investigations continue, the Karur stampede has become more than a tragic accident — it is now a test of accountability, political credibility, and crisis management for Tamil Nadu’s newest political force.