Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin delivered a scathing critique in the state Assembly, pinpointing actor-politician Vijay’s seven-hour delay as a primary cause of the tragic Karur stampede that killed 41 people, including nine children, on September 27. Addressing the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) rally at Veluchamypuram, Stalin condemned the organizers’ failure to provide essentials like water, food, and toilets, alongside their disregard for police safety directives. Expressing condolences, he contrasted the chaotic event with a well-managed AIADMK rally at the same venue two days earlier, which hosted 12,000–15,000 attendees with only 137 police personnel and no incidents.

The CM detailed how TVK’s initial venue requests for urban sites like Lighthouse Corner and Uzhavar Santhai were denied due to crowd and security risks, leading to conditional approval for Veluchamypuram from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. with 11 stipulations. Despite expecting 10,000 attendees, over 500 police were deployed for a larger crowd. However, TVK general secretary Bussy Anand’s announcement that Vijay would arrive at noon prompted thousands to gather from morning. Vijay, leaving Chennai at 8:40 a.m. and attending a Namakkal rally, arrived at 7 p.m., causing prolonged waiting that triggered overcrowding and panic, exacerbated by the absence of basic amenities.

Stalin criticized TVK’s defiance of police instructions to halt the campaign vehicle and deliver Vijay’s speech near Akshna Hospital to manage the swelling crowds. As the vehicle moved forward, merging crowds led to crushes, with women and children suffering suffocation, fainting, and trampling. A rush toward a generator area prompted a power cut to prevent electrocutions. The CM refuted rumors of premature ambulance deployment, clarifying that vehicles were summoned post-stampede for rescues but faced attacks by two TVK cadres, who vandalized an ambulance, leading to FIRs and one arrest, with another suspect surrendering.

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The state’s swift response saw the first injured admitted to Karur Government Hospital by 7:47 p.m., with over 200 treated by 152 doctors from neighboring districts. A judicial inquiry, led by Justice Aruna Jagadeesan, is underway, alongside police cases against TVK leaders for violating conditions and Vijay for an unauthorized roadshow. Stalin’s address underscored the need for political parties to prioritize public safety, warning that negligence, as seen in TVK’s mismanagement, risks catastrophic consequences, especially as Vijay’s statewide tour fuels his 2026 election campaign.

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