Grief lingers while parties play blame game
Also Read: In TN’s Perambur & Trichy East, Vijay’s dual seat gamble hinges on a knock-on-every-door campaign
Blame game
As the people of Tamil Nadu get ready to head to the polling booths on 23 April, Karur is once again in the political spotlight. The ruling DMK and TVK are locked in a blame game over the stampede, even as weary residents say they have moved on and view it as a tragic accident caused by crowd frenzy and poor planning.
For many who waited hours in the blistering heat for a glimpse of the actor-turned-politician, the memory remains fresh.
The stampede occurred when a massive crowd surge at Vijay’s campaign rally at Velusamypuram in Tamil Nadu’s Karur spiralled into chaos. Vijay was scheduled to campaign for his TVK in Namakkal and Karur districts on that day. He was supposed to begin his campaign in Namakkal at 8.45 am, but came to the venue around 2.45 pm, and spoke for about 15 minutes before rushing to Karur.
He was supposed to have begun his rally at Karur at 12.45 pm, but reached the venue around 7.30 pm. Eyewitnesses told ThePrint there was a huge rush of people and chaos set in as they jostled to see him.
The DMK blames the TVK for underestimating the crowds and failing to arrange basic amenities like water, food or shelter during the long wait, and choosing an unsuitable venue. The TVK, in turn, has framed the incident as possible sabotage or the result of administrative lapses by the DMK government, alleging that inadequate security and restrictions hindered proper arrangements.
In Karur district, election campaigns in constituencies such as Karur, Krishnarayapuram, Aravakurichi, and Kulithalai have typically focused on candidates’ strengths, party networks, alliances, and development promises.
But in this election, the Karur stampede tragedy refuses to fade entirely.
Speaking not just as a politician, DMK candidate M. Thiyagarajan said that even as a parent, it pained him to think of the incident. “No amount of compensation can make amends for these young lives. We see it as a tragedy that happened in our home.”
At the same time, he questioned why the event went ahead without adequate preparations and why people were made to wait for hours.
He also stressed accountability for organisational failures, rather than politicising grief.
The TVK’s candidate, V. P. Mathiyazhagan, emphasised the party’s support for the families of the victims.
“It was unexpected, but something like that should have never happened in Karur. The affected people are our family who came to see our leader, Vijay. Others will do politics and leave. We will be with them till the end,” he said.
He noted the challenges of security permissions that hindered direct visits and assured people that a TVK government would ensure proper arrangements.
TVK chief Vijay has called for justice while positioning the 2026 polls as a battle between “pure force” and “evil force”, describing the tragedy as a “temporary hurdle” engineered by the “ruling DMK ecosystem”.
TVK supporters on the ground sometimes describe the incident as a “conspiracy”. One supporter hinted at “malpractice” and confidently predicted that “Vijay will definitely win”.
A Supreme Court-ordered CBI probe adds another layer of legal tension, with Vijay appearing before investigators.
On the campaign trail
On the ground, many voters view the stampede as a tragic accident rather than a factor that could influence votes.
Eyewitnesses often direct any lingering anger at authorities, blaming the constricted venue and insufficient police presence rather than Vijay himself.
“It was a stampede, nothing else. We don’t have any anger towards anyone, and people seem to have moved on,” said Jagan, a local medical shop owner.
Senthil, a resident of Velusamypuram, agreed.
“He is an actor. The crowd would have come anyway. If they had given a bigger space, more protection, maybe it could have caused less damage,” said Senthil.
One eyewitness and TVK supporter, Sowjanya, who was present with her two children, said she believed it was a “conspiracy”.
“The fact that we were saved is a big thing for us. There was some malpractice, and there has been no clear investigation into who threw slippers at Vijay. No one asked about that. Everyone is supporting him, Vijay, and he will definitely win,” she said.
Meanwhile, the election campaign is heating up. Apart from support for victims’ families, both sides are also promising development.
DMK candidate Thiyagarajan expressed confidence of winning Karur, a stronghold of DMK leader and current MLA Senthil Balaji, who is now contesting from Coimbatore South.
He highlighted improvements in infrastructure to bolster his argument.
“During the DMK’s tenure, we have established robust road networks, drinking water facilities, free bus services, and other amenities that have proven highly beneficial to the business community,” Thiyagarajan said.
“On behalf of various industrial federations, discussions were held regarding a collective roadmap aimed at achieving economic targets. Infrastructure development projects are currently underway, and facilities such as a Tidel Park have already been established,” he said.
On the other hand, TVK candidate Mathiyazhagan called for change, questioned the ruling party’s welfare schemes, and accused the DMK of distributing cash for votes.
“Just because politicians think that if they give Rs 2,000 or Rs 5,000 for voting, it will be enough. They don’t provide the basic necessities for the people and industries in Karur. Basic facilities like toilets and restrooms are not here,” he told ThePrint.
“People come here for work and don’t have a proper place to stay in this business hub. The people of Karur are treated like machines with no mode of recreation. When the TVK comes to power, the basic necessities and priority will be given to education and health,” he added.
‘I don’t know if true justice will ever come’
In a narrow lane in Velusamypuram, the home of two-year-old Guru Vishnu, the youngest victim, stands as a quiet reminder of the tragedy.
His family spoke sparingly, saying they are tired of reliving the horrific day. They relocated to a different area in Karur to distance themselves from constant reminders and questions.
They chose not to comment on the political debate around the incident or any discussion about the “Vijay factor”. Daily survival and quiet mourning take precedence over assigning fault to the political parties in the heat of the election season.
In nearby Emoor Pudhur, Sakthivel broke down at the thought of that day he last heard the voice note from his wife, who went to the political rally with their daughter to see Vijay.
Staring at their photo, he was weighed down by memories that refused to fade. Weeks after his wife, Priyadarshini, and their 14-year-old daughter, Dharanika, died in the crush, grief claimed his mother, too.
His voice cracked as he recalled the day and the long wait. He said he did not want to speak of his grief as he worried that it could be politicised.
“Nothing can bring them back,” he said, tearing up.
“I don’t know if true justice will ever arrive. All I wish for now is peace for the souls of my loved ones. My sister gives me food on most days, and on other days, I either eat outside or manage to cook something. I don’t want to blame anyone,” he added.
Other families also echoed this mix of raw pain, saying they preferred not to talk about the past that changed their lives forever in just a few hours.
The victims’ families received Rs 10 lakh ex gratia from the DMK government, along with aid for the injured. The TVK reportedly offered Rs 20 lakh.
Vijay met around 37 families privately at a resort in Mamallapuram late in October 2025, as the party claimed that the administration did not provide him with adequate safety arrangements to visit Karur.
The families said he expressed sorrow, broke down emotionally, and promised support for jobs or education.
Yet, some felt the gesture lacked the intimacy of a personal visit to Karur, questioning why the families had to travel rather than the leader coming to their doorstep in their hour of grief.
(Edited by Sugita Katyal)
Also Read: ‘In Tamil Nadu, Vijay is family. TVK won’t fade away like other star parties’—treasurer Venkataramanan
