Chennai: The fallout from actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) rally in Karur has taken a new turn after video footage emerged of slippers being thrown towards the actor.

The incident, caught on camera, shows slippers flying in Vijay’s direction before being intercepted by security personnel. Vijay appeared unaware of the episode as it unfolded.

The video has fuelled online debates, with some pointing to the hostility the actor is facing, while critics questioned his decision to leave the rally site without addressing the crowd or visiting victims after the deadly stampede.

The stampede, which killed 41 people including women and children, occurred after massive overcrowding and poor crowd management. Many attendees collapsed in the crush, with hospitals overwhelmed by the injured. A nine-year-old girl was among the victims, while several families lost multiple members.

In the aftermath, the Tamil Nadu government advised Vijay and TVK leaders not to visit the Karur Government Hospital, citing fears of further unrest. Meanwhile, the Madras High Court is hearing a petition to bar TVK from holding further rallies until a probe into the disaster is complete.

Vijay, who expressed grief and announced compensation of Rs 20 lakh for bereaved families and Rs 2 lakh for the injured, has come under criticism for his absence from the scene and silence in the immediate aftermath. His quick departure from Karur and avoidance of media interactions at airports in Tiruchirappalli and Chennai further fuelled speculation about accountability.

The tragedy has prompted widespread questions about planning failures, with eyewitnesses describing chaos, lack of basic facilities, and police baton charges that worsened the panic. At the site, scattered slippers, trampled flags, and abandoned belongings painted a grim picture of the disaster.

With grief mounting and public anger deepening, the Karur rally has exposed critical lapses in safety at political gatherings and raised urgent calls for accountability.