Controversial Deleted Post by TVK Leader Urges Youth Revolution Against DMK Following Karur Stampede Tragedy

New Delhi:

A controversial X post, subsequently deleted, by Aadhav Arjuna, a senior figure in actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), has sparked significant controversy by encouraging Tamil Nadu's 'Gen Z' to emulate young Nepalis and rise against what he termed a "wicked government," referring to the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

The timing of this post has drawn particular criticism, coming less than 48 hours after a tragic stampede at a Vijay-led rally in Karur that claimed 41 lives. The DMK has offered a brief response thus far; Lok Sabha MP Kanimozhi condemned the post as "irresponsible" and cautioned that it could incite violence.

The TVK, currently managing the humanitarian, legal, and political consequences of the stampede – including police allegations that Vijay's 'deliberate display of political power' caused the tragedy – has admitted the error. Sources indicated the post was promptly removed and emphasized that neither the party nor the 'revolution' seemingly advocated by Arjuna represented their stance.

TVK sources assured NDTV, 'The party and Vijay will never instigate people or violence'.

In the Tamil language post, a screenshot of which is now circulating online, Aadhava Arjuna, who serves as TVK's General Secretary, had stated, "A youth-led revolution is the only solution. 'Gen Z' revolted in Sri Lanka, Nepal against the ruling government. Here also the youth will lead a revolution."

He further claimed, "That revolution is going to be the reason for a change in government. Under a wicked ruler even the laws turn wicked," while also accusing Tamil Nadu police of assaulting citizens "for just walking on the road" and arresting them "for expressing opinions on social media".

A screenshot of the deleted X post by TVK leader Aadhav Arjuna.

Notably, Arjuna has also petitioned the Madras High Court seeking directives to prevent the state government from blocking Vijay's visits to families of Karur victims.

He has additionally requested that the stampede investigation – currently under state police jurisdiction – be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation to ensure impartiality.

The TVK and DMK have exchanged accusations regarding the Karur stampede.

Vijay's TVK has alleged a 'conspiracy' by the ruling party, highlighting supposed power outages (allegedly designed to unsettle the large gathering) and claimed mishandling of crowd control by police officers.

The DMK has denied conspiracy allegations and instead accused the TVK of failing to implement proper safety measures.

In a video statement released Monday, Chief Minister MK Stalin affirmed his administration would act upon recommendations from the one-person inquiry committee established to investigate the incident.

He also called for calm, urging political organizations and the public to avoid spreading misinformation via WhatsApp, referencing rumors about delayed autopsies and medical procedures.

Police authorities, meanwhile, have attributed the stampede to unscheduled stops by Vijay's campaign vehicle – which conducted an impromptu road show without proper authorization.

With Tamil Nadu's 2026 election approaching, the Karur tragedy has become a political opportunity for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which traditionally struggles for support in this southern state. The BJP plans to dispatch an eight-member parliamentary delegation to conduct its own 'investigation' and generate momentum before the upcoming election.

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