DMK Criticizes Vijay and AIADMK Over Karur Stampede: Political Tensions Rise in Tamil Nadu

Political tensions are escalating over the tragic stampede in Tamil Nadu's Karur on September 27 that claimed 41 lives, with the ruling DMK now targeting both AIADMK leader E Palaniswami and actor Vijay, whose Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party is set to make its first electoral appearance in next year's Assembly election.

The DMK's IT wing shared a provocative cartoon on X depicting Palaniswami and Vijay smiling while carrying a palanquin with Prime Minister Narendra Modi seated on a throne. The post included the cryptic caption "IYKYK" (if you know, you know).

This colorful illustration portrays EPS and Vijay as subservient to the Prime Minister and references a line from a famous Tamil song from a film starring former Chief Minister MG Ramachandran (MGR), who founded the AIADMK in 1972. The Tamil line translates to "why would slaves have blood running in their bodies?"

In response, the TVK dismissed these allegations of collusion with the BJP as completely unfounded, pointing out that it was actually the DMK that had allied with the BJP between 1999 and 2001. TVK spokesperson Loyola Mani emphasized, "We have never said we are aligning with the Bharatiya Janata Party. In fact, we have always called it our 'ideological' enemy."

The controversial post appeared following the Supreme Court's approval of a CBI investigation into the stampede, which had been requested by the TVK. The court established a three-member panel headed by former Supreme Court justice Ajay Rastogi to oversee the inquiry.

As Tamil Nadu moves toward next year's election, speculation about potential alliances for the TVK continues to grow. The party has explicitly ruled out partnerships with the DMK, which it considers its "political enemy," and the BJP, its "ideological enemy," leaving only the AIADMK as a potential ally.

Observers have noted that the TVK has been notably less critical of the AIADMK. However, Palaniswami's party already maintains an alliance with the BJP, which complicates any potential arrangement with the TVK.

Since the Karur tragedy, rumors of a TVK-AIADMK collaboration have intensified, with reports of TVK party flags appearing at Palaniswami's campaign events. Vijay's party has denied these claims.

Any formal or informal agreement between the AIADMK and TVK would almost certainly terminate the AIADMK's existing alliance with the BJP, as the TVK cannot risk being associated with a party it has publicly labeled its "ideological enemy."

Meanwhile, DMK coalition partners Congress and VCK have issued warnings to Vijay, suggesting that the BJP might leverage the CBI investigation to pressure him. VCK Chief Thirumavalavan cautioned, "Vijay should be cautious. The CBI inquiry is a trap. BJP will try to corner him. This is a setback for Vijay, not for the DMK government."