Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor-turned-politician Vijay has stirred the political debate in Tamil Nadu with a sharp message to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin over the recent Karur stampede incident. Addressing the tragedy that claimed multiple lives, Vijay alleged administrative negligence and said that accountability must be fixed at the highest levels.
In a strongly worded statement, Vijay remarked, “If you want revenge, take it on me directly, not on innocent people.” His comments were seen as a direct accusation that the state government’s mishandling of political and administrative responsibilities had cost ordinary citizens their lives. The actor-politician further demanded that the victims’ families be provided adequate compensation and that systemic lapses leading to the tragedy be addressed immediately.
The stampede in Karur, which occurred during a welfare distribution event, has triggered widespread outrage across the state. Opposition parties and civil society groups have blamed poor crowd management and lack of safety measures for the disaster. While the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government has announced an inquiry, critics argue that such tragedies reflect deeper issues of political populism and inadequate planning.
Vijay’s remarks come at a time when his political outfit, TVK, is attempting to position itself as a credible alternative to established Dravidian parties. By directly confronting Stalin, he has sought to project himself as a voice of accountability and justice, appealing to younger voters and families disillusioned with mainstream politics.
The DMK, however, dismissed the allegations, with party leaders defending the Chief Minister and accusing Vijay of exploiting a tragedy for political mileage. They asserted that immediate relief measures had been announced and that a detailed investigation would determine responsibility.
The controversy underscores the increasingly charged political atmosphere in Tamil Nadu, where new entrants like Vijay are challenging the dominance of traditional parties. The Karur stampede, tragic in itself, has now become a focal point for political sparring, reflecting the tense rivalry ahead of upcoming elections.
