5,000-person cap, strict safety rules as TVK Vijay returns to Puducherry for first rally since Karur tragedy

Puducherry: Actor-turned-politician Vijay is set to hold his first major political rally since the Karur tragedy, with Puducherry Police granting permission for the event on 9 December. The rally, shifted to Puducherry after Tamil Nadu denied approval, will take place under strict conditions. Attendance has been capped at 5,000 people, with 500-person enclosures, and authorities have mandated adequate drinking water and washroom facilities. The event is being seen as a crucial test of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s (TVK) organisational strength and Vijay’s credibility as an emerging political force.

TVK had formally sought police permission to hold a public meeting at the Uppalam ground in the Union Territory. A delegation of party leaders from the Puducherry unit met the Senior Superintendent of Police, Law and Order, R. Kalaivanan, on 4 December to request clearance for the gathering.

The party had initially planned a roadshow for Vijay on 5 December. After approaching Chief Minister N. Rangasamy and Director General of Police Shalini Singh, several social organisations reportedly advised the government against granting permission for the event. Subsequently, police informed the TVK leadership that a roadshow could not be permitted and asked them to propose an alternative form of public event.

Background: Karur stampede

The rally comes in the aftermath of the Karur tragedy on 27 September, when a stampede during Vijay’s campaign claimed 41 lives and left at least 60 injured. Officials said the disaster occurred as a crowd of nearly 30,000 gathered at a venue designed for around 10,000 people. Security guidelines were reportedly violated, and insufficient arrangements for food and drinking water contributed to the chaos.

Vijay, who was scheduled to arrive at 12 pm, reportedly reached the venue around 7 pm. The crowd had grown significantly by then, and his arrival allegedly triggered another surge. Many people climbed trees, rooftops, and power lines, prompting authorities to cut electricity lines to prevent electrocution. When Vijay’s campaign bus arrived, the crowd began pushing and throwing slippers to get his attention, causing several people to faint. Police were then forced to carry out a lathi charge to disperse the crowd.

The Puducherry rally will therefore be closely monitored, with authorities emphasising strict adherence to safety protocols to prevent a repeat of the Karur incident.