Chennai: The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has submitted a formal request to the Erode district administration seeking permission to hold a public meeting of actor-politician Vijay on December 16 at a private venue in Erode.

The petition was handed over by KA Sengottaiyan, Chief Coordinator of TVK, to the Erode District Collector, requesting official clearance for the programme while ensuring compliance with all prevailing government and safety guidelines.

Speaking to reporters after submitting the request, Sengottaiyan emphasised that, once approved, the organisers would strictly adhere to safety norms and administrative directions issued by the government and police. He added that the party was fully conscious of its responsibility to conduct large public gatherings in an orderly and safe manner.

Sengottaiyan, who recently resigned from the AIADMK, also clarified that the roadshow originally proposed as part of Vijay’s Erode visit has been postponed in light of current safety concerns. Instead, the party plans to host a controlled public meeting at a fixed private location within the Erode district.

“Considering the current circumstances, we felt it would be more appropriate to avoid a roadshow and opt for a controlled public meeting at a fixed location,” he said.

When asked about speculation over political realignments, Sengottaiyan stated:

“We are also waiting to see what developments unfold at the Erode event," he remarked, without giving further details.

The move follows the tragic stampede during a public meeting in Karur on September 27, where at least 41 people lost their lives due to a massive crowd surge. The incident prompted widespread criticism of crowd management and safety measures at political events, leading authorities to tighten norms for granting permissions for large gatherings.

Following the Karur tragedy, the administration mandated stricter crowd-control measures, attendance limits, and deployment of adequate police and emergency personnel at public events. Since then, indoor meetings and gatherings at enclosed or private venues have been preferred over open-road programmes like roadshows.

The Erode administration is expected to carefully evaluate the request, with venue capacity, traffic management, emergency preparedness, and compliance with safety protocols being key considerations before granting approval.

If permission is granted, Vijay’s December 16 meeting is anticipated to become a major political mobilisation event for TVK in western Tamil Nadu, ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.

IANS