Vaiko, the general secretary of Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), slammed the tragic stampede at Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader Vijay’s rally in Karur as an “unprecedented tragedy in Tamil Nadu’s history.” The incident on September 27 claimed 41 lives, including several children, and Vaiko pointed the finger squarely at the event organizers for the chaos.
Speaking to reporters in Chennai, Vaiko described the Karur rally as “poorly planned,” with major lapses in crowd control that turned a festive gathering into a deadly disaster. “The organizers didn’t prepare properly, and things spiraled out of control from there,” he said.
He highlighted how Vijay’s delayed arrival worsened the situation. Vijay showed up hours late in Namakkal and was even behind schedule entering Karur district, leaving massive crowds waiting and pushing to get a glimpse of the popular actor-turned-politician. “Eager fans packed in tight because of the hold-up,” Vaiko explained.
Vaiko also criticized TVK members for trying to shift blame to the Tamil Nadu state government. He praised the quick response from Chief Minister MK Stalin and his team, who rushed to Karur and offered full support to victims’ families. “Some TVK folks are making baseless claims against the DMK government just to dodge the public’s anger. That’s unacceptable and condemnable,” Vaiko said.
Looking back for lessons, Vaiko recalled how former Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) handled huge crowds smartly during his DMK campaigns. “MGR would stand up in his vehicle early, flash the party symbol, and wave to fans along the route. Vijay should have done something similar to manage the massive turnout,” he suggested.
To avoid future stampedes at political rallies, Vaiko urged all parties in Tamil Nadu to build trained volunteer teams focused on crowd management and safety. He couldn’t make it to Karur himself due to health issues but sent his deepest condolences to the grieving families.
Vaiko also had a message for the public: Stay cautious at big events. “Everyone attending large gatherings needs to look out for themselves,” he said, adding that preventing these accidents is a team effort involving organizers, officials, and attendees.
In response to the Karur stampede tragedy, the Tamil Nadu government has set up a one-member inquiry commission led by retired judge Aruna Jagadeesan. The panel will probe what went wrong and suggest better safety steps for upcoming political rallies.
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