September 28, 2025

A big gathering turned into a nightmare at Tamil actor-turned-politician Vijay's rally in Karur on Saturday evening. Thousands had gathered for the "Velicham Veliyeru" (Let There Be Light) campaign by his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). Suddenly, the crowd surged, leading to a stampede-like crush. Sadly, at least 36 people, including women and children, lost their lives, and around 40 got injured, some seriously. The local district administration described the event as a "stampede-like crush" at Velusamypuram on the busy Karur–Erode highway. This tragedy shocked Tamil Nadu and the entire nation. Social media exploded with anger, and hashtags like #arrestvijay started trending on X (formerly Twitter), with many demanding Vijay be held responsible. So, who is Vijay? At 51, he is one of Tamil cinema's biggest superstars, popularly called "Thalapathy" (meaning commander) by his fans. Earlier this year, Vijay made a bold move by launching the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (Party for Tamil Nadu's Victory), aiming to change Tamil Nadu's political scene long dominated by DMK and AIADMK. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Vijay's TVK made waves, capturing nearly 10% of the vote, especially among young, first-time voters. The Karur rally was not just a one-off — it was part of a state-wide "Velicham Veliyeru" campaign to build grassroots support ahead of the 2026 state assembly elections. As of 10:30 pm on Saturday, the death toll tragically climbed to 36. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin announced plans to visit Karur on Sunday to understand the situation and provide support to those affected. The rally that promised light turned dark in moments, leaving families shattered and raising serious questions about crowd safety at political events. Tamil Nadu and Vijay’s fans await answers, while the state mourns this shocking disaster.

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Tags: Vijay, Tamilaga vettri kazhagam, Karur rally, Stampede, Tamil nadu politics, Crowd crush,