Chennai: Erode has emerged as a political focal point as Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay to address a large open public rally on Thursday, his first major open-air meeting since the stampede incident at a public gathering in Karur.

The rally is gonna be held at a ground near Vijayamangalam, located in a gravel area on the outskirts of the town of Erode, Tamil Nadu, with arrangements underway since early morning.

The TVK programme is scheduled to begin at 11 am, but party volunteers and supporters started assembling at the venue in large numbers from the early hours. Around 1,500 police personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order, with security measures tightened across the area.

Following the Karur incident, Vijay had largely avoided open public meetings and instead addressed supporters in controlled environments, including a hall meeting in Kanchipuram and an open gathering in Puducherry. In Puducherry, attendance was restricted through QR code-based identity cards, and only 5,000 people were allowed to participate.

In contrast, no entry passes or identity cards have been mandated for the Erode rally, allowing unrestricted public access. However, organisers have advised that children, pregnant women and elderly persons should avoid attending the event as a precautionary measure.

The Erode meeting is being closely watched as the district is the home turf of former Tamil Nadu minister K A Sengottaiyan, adding political significance to the event. Party sources have described the rally as a key show of strength and a test of Vijay’s ability to mobilise mass support following recent developments.

With heavy security, unrestricted attendance and mounting political curiosity, the Erode rally is seen as a defining moment ahead of Vijay’s next moves in Tamil Nadu politics.