Stalin says Vijay’s delay triggered Karur stampede; EPS blames government

Chennai: The political storm surrounding the 27 September Karur stampede, which left 41 people dead, spilled into the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Wednesday, with Chief Minister MK Stalin holding actor Vijay and his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), responsible for the tragedy.

In a detailed statement made before the opposition could raise the issue, Stalin said Vijay’s delayed arrival at the event—seven hours behind schedule—was a key factor that led to chaos and overcrowding. “Permission was given for the rally from 3 pm to 10 pm, and the organisers had assured the leader would arrive by noon. But he came at 7 pm, leading to congestion and panic,” Stalin told the Assembly, as reported by News18.

He said the TVK had failed to provide basic amenities such as drinking water and toilets, particularly for women, and accused party workers of attacking two ambulance drivers who were attempting to help the injured. The Chief Minister added that 660 police personnel were deployed—515 from Karur and 91 from nearby districts—and that ambulances were dispatched immediately after the incident.

Dismissing TVK’s claim that a power cut worsened the confusion, Stalin clarified that the generator was switched off to prevent further accidents. He said the state government was drafting new safety guidelines for mass political events and urged all parties to maintain discipline to avoid future tragedies.

Tamil Nadu Transport Minister S. S. Sivasankar also told the Assembly that two ambulances were attacked amid the chaos and said the footwear seen flying in videos was thrown by attendees seeking help and water, not to attack rescuers.

EPS counters Stalin

Leader of the Opposition and AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) hit back, calling the stampede a result of “government negligence”. He questioned why permission was granted for an event at a venue too small for the expected turnout and why post-mortems were conducted at midnight. “There’s a big doubt about a conspiracy,” EPS alleged, accusing officials of issuing conflicting statements even as a probe was underway.

This led to a heated exchange, with Minister Durai Murugan urging the opposition to appreciate Stalin for visiting the site promptly. “That’s his responsibility,” EPS retorted, prompting Stalin to reference the 2018 Thoothukudi firing during EPS’s tenure. The opposition leader countered by questioning Stalin’s absence after the 2024 Kallakurichi illicit liquor tragedy, to which Stalin replied that ministers had been dispatched immediately.

Stalin said 152 doctors and nurses from nearby districts were deployed to assist, and 400 additional hospital beds were arranged in Karur. The AIADMK MLAs later walked out in protest.

Eye on 2026 elections

The incident has taken on a political dimension ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Both the AIADMK and the BJP—recently back in alliance—have shown interest in Vijay’s TVK, seen as an emerging political force. Although Vijay has previously called the BJP his “ideological enemy”, the Karur tragedy has intensified scrutiny of his party’s preparedness and leadership.

The Supreme Court has ordered a CBI probe into the incident, monitored by a three-member committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ajay Rastogi. Among the victims were 18 women, 15 men, and 10 children.

The Karur stampede took place during a TVK rally that was to be addressed by Vijay, marking a major public appearance for the actor ahead of his party’s electoral debut next year. Thousands gathered at the site hours before the scheduled start, leading to overcrowding. When Vijay’s convoy arrived at around 7 pm—hours later than expected—panic ensued as the crowd surged forward.

The Tamil Nadu government has maintained that adequate police, medical and security arrangements were made. The administration said the venue was approved under 11 conditions, with the TVK agreeing to maintain discipline and control crowd flow.

Following the tragedy, the TVK accused the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government of deliberately mismanaging the event and claimed that the power supply was cut off intentionally. Vijay alleged political vendetta by Stalin’s government, while the state later issued a detailed rebuttal denying any wrongdoing.

The Supreme Court’s order for a CBI investigation came after multiple petitions demanded an impartial probe. The inquiry, overseen by Justice Ajay Rastogi’s committee, aims to establish whether lapses by the organisers or authorities led to the deadly crush.

The tragedy, which claimed the lives of 41 people—including women and children—has triggered widespread public outrage and political fallout, putting both Vijay’s fledgling political career and the state administration under intense scrutiny ahead of the polls.