TVK Chief Vijay Meets Karur Stampede Victims' Families One Month After Tragedy: Political Implications

Actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) Chief Vijay is hosting a meeting with the families of Karur stampede victims at a private hotel in Mamallapuram. This gathering comes exactly one month after the tragic incident that claimed 41 lives.

The meeting includes over 200 individuals, comprising 37 affected families and several people who sustained injuries in the stampede. Each family has brought four to five members to meet Vijay. Reports indicate that the actor plans to personally console each family affected by the tragedy.

This closed-door event has strict access limitations with only TVK party functionaries permitted inside the premises.

The decision to bring victims' families to Chennai has drawn criticism from various quarters, with many questioning why Vijay chose not to travel to Karur instead. Although Vijay had initially announced plans to visit Karur personally, party sources cited logistical challenges as the reason for changing the venue.

Prior to the Diwali festival, TVK transferred Rs 20 lakh as financial assistance to families who lost loved ones in the tragic stampede that occurred at the party's welfare rally in Karur.

The stampede at Vijay's political rally on September 27 resulted in 41 fatalities and injured over 50 people. Among the victims was two-year-old Dhuru Vishnu, who attended the rally with relatives.

Tamil Nadu's Director General of Police G Venkataraman reported that a seven-hour delay in Vijay's arrival triggered an uncontrollable crowd surge. The attendance swelled to 27,000 people, far exceeding the venue's 10,000-person capacity. Sources indicated that the venue lacked adequate food and drinking water arrangements.

Officials also stated that Vijay's team disregarded police advice to stop 50 meters before the designated venue to prevent crowd congestion.

TVK has denied any wrongdoing, attributing the delay to police mismanagement of traffic and suggesting a conspiracy by the ruling DMK party—allegations that the DMK has firmly rejected.

Meanwhile, major opposition parties including the AIADMK and its ally BJP are attempting to form an alliance with TVK.