Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) General Secretary Vaiko on Tuesday unequivocally blamed the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) for the devastating stampede that occurred at party president Vijay’s rally in Velusamypuram, Karur, on September 27, 2025. This tragic incident, which claimed the lives of 41 individuals, including children, has been described by Vaiko as an unprecedented disaster in Tamil Nadu’s history. He held the rally’s organizers directly responsible for the fatalities.
Speaking to reporters in Chennai, Mr. Vaiko asserted that the organizers’ profound failure to properly plan the event led directly to the situation spiraling out of control. He highlighted that Mr. Vijay’s late arrival at both Namakkal and Karur that day contributed significantly to the burgeoning crowd and the subsequent stampede. “Mr. Vijay had already arrived very late in Namakkal and was several hours behind schedule even before entering Karur district,” Vaiko explained.
Furthermore, Vaiko accused the TVK of actively disseminating rumors to mislead the public. He commended the State government for its swift and decisive action, noting that the Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues visited Karur within hours of the incident to provide comprehensive support. Despite these efforts, Vaiko alleged that certain TVK members were leveling baseless accusations against the DMK government. He suggested these attempts were a desperate tactic to divert public anger, which was rightfully directed at the organizers, towards the government instead. “This is a reprehensible attempt to deflect blame and is strongly condemnable,” he stated.
Recalling the 1971 campaign of former Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) during his time with the DMK, Mr. Vaiko drew a stark contrast: “MGR would rise from his vehicle well before reaching the campaign spot, displaying the party symbol and waving to supporters along the road.” He implied that Mr. Vijay should have demonstrated similar foresight and preparedness given the anticipated large gathering.
The MDMK leader concluded by stressing the crucial need for every political party to establish and train a dedicated volunteer force for effective crowd management at public meetings. Vaiko expressed his regret at being unable to visit Karur due to health reasons and urged the public to exercise extreme caution when attending large gatherings to prevent similar tragedies in the future.