The fledgling political TVK’s chief Joseph Vijay has made it clear that his party will not have any alliance with either the AIADMK or the DMK, and that the fight would be between the TVK and the DMK in the forthcoming Assembly elections due next year. After his party’s Karur meeting, where 41 were killed in a stampede, it is reported that he was dilly-dallying over aligning with the NDA–AIADMK combine due to facing the DMK, which he alleged sought to destroy his party.
Joseph Vijay, who has been in hibernation for over a month to recover from the shock of the stampede and the political onslaughts and cases he has been facing from opponents, spoke to the party’s special general council meeting in Mamallapuram on November 5 and reiterated that the 2026 Assembly elections would be a contest between his TVK and the DMK. The general council passed a resolution to this effect, saying the TVK would contest the election under Vijay’s leadership and authorised him to take decisions regarding alliances. He said, “I have maintained silence all these days as the party was in deep grief over the stampede deaths.”
The meet passed 12 resolutions, including one condemning the DMK government for the rise in crimes against women and the deteriorating law and order situation. It also opposed the SIR. By announcing Vijay as the CM candidate, the doors for alliance with the DMK and other parties are closed for alliance talks.
Joseph Vijay accused DMK leader and Chief Minister M. K. Stalin of acting with ‘political malice and narrow-mindedness’ against the TVK soon after the Karur stampede. He said the DMK has lost public trust and the 2026 Assembly elections will be a direct fight between the TVK and the DMK.
Joining issue with Vijay, TN BJP chief Nainar Nagendran said on November 7 that the BJP is the biggest political party in the country. Vijay has not even become a councillor but claims he will become a CM. “Will anyone believe such words?” he asked. He said the NDA in TN under AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami was gaining momentum on the ground.
Nearly a month after the tragic stampede during actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay’s rally in Karur, Vijay met the families of as many as 33 of the 41 people who lost their lives.
He also met a few of those who sustained injuries in a closed-door meeting organised at a private hall near Mahabalipuram on 27 October. TVK had booked around 50 rooms at the upscale resort to host the closed-door interaction with the victims’ families, which lasted nearly eight hours. The TVK has credited Rs 20 lakh each to the bank accounts of 39 bereaved families.
Earlier, talking to the media, Nainar Nagendran raised questions. He said, “All of you know how the incident at the Kumbh Mela took place. In Karur, 41 people tragically lost their lives. Who switched off the power supply? Who threw the footwear? What were the police doing? Permission was not granted at the spot where the TVK asked. What was the need for the police to conduct a lathi charge? Why was an ambulance needed immediately after the meeting began? But for the Chief Minister’s events, permission is always given, so why was it denied for this one? When an inquiry is being conducted by a one-man commission, it is not right for officials to hold press meets…”
Chennai | On the Karur stampede, Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagendra says, "All of you know how the incident at the Kumbh Mela took place. In Karur, 41 people tragically lost their lives. Who switched off the power supply? Who threw the footwear? What was the police doing?… pic.twitter.com/FA70FlO7Cm
— ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2025
Taking to social media platform X, the TN BJP chief faulted the TN police for giving permission to hold meetings in highly congested and narrow places. He said it was the fault of the government too. “Immediately after the meeting started, power supply was disconnected, ambulances were allowed in, there was a baton charge on the crowd, and some fell into sewer drains and lost their lives. The meeting was organised by Vijay. It is the duty of the government to protect the lives of people. What was the connection between these? The DMK government should take full responsibility for the Karur stampede and the eventualities.”
ஆளும் அரசின் திறனற்ற நிர்வாகத்தால் ஏற்பட்ட துயரச் சம்பவத்திற்கு பொறுப்பேற்காமல், நாடகமாடி, நிவாரணம் அளித்து மற்ற கட்சிகளைக் குற்றம்சாட்டுவது தான் @arivalayam அரசின் அரசியலா @mkstalin? pic.twitter.com/iER1XYX2zK
— BJP Tamilnadu (@BJP4TamilNadu) October 3, 2025
Some critics pointed out, “On hearing the incident Stalin announced setting up a one-man commission. Within hours he announced Rs 10 lakh to the deceased families, besides rushing to Karur. He did not show such haste in the Kallakurichi illicit hooch tragedy or the Vengaivasal human faeces mixing in a water tank meant for a Dalit colony and other mishaps. How could ambulances with DMK and ex-minister banner ones enter the venue? The bottles had stickers of the DMK government. How fast they could mobilise these? Were they expecting such a tragedy? The silence of DMK allies but blaming Vijay and linking him with the BJP, questioning the visit of the NDA MPs’ team, are raising doubts.
“In the FIR, actor Joseph Vijay, general secretary Adhav Arjuna, and John Arocyasamy (all Christians) were not added, but only general secretary Bussy Anand, CTR Nirmal Kumar, and another local functionary (all Hindus) were added, raising questions of minority appeasement even in death-related events,” he added.
The non-inclusion of Vijay’s name in the FIR raises a doubt: “Was it part of a plan to make the election fight between the DMK and the TVK, as many have said?”
P. H. Dinesh filed a petition in the Madras HC saying, “The TVK should bear full responsibility for the death of 41 people in Karur as it occurred due to careless planning and complete negligence by the organisers.” He also said police had filed an FIR against Bussy Anand, deputy general secretary CTR Nirmal Kumar, and a few others for reasons best known to the authorities. The FIR did not include the name of Vijay. “The act is purely for political reasons.”
One of the DMK allies, VCK leader and Lok Sabha MP Thol Thirumavalavan, also raised the question of why Joseph Vijay’s name was not added to the FIR. He said it could lead to speculation as to whether the DMK and the TVK had any pact.
Speaking to the media in Trichy, the VCK leader said, “The attitude of the police is shocking. In the Karur stampede, some names have been included in the FIR, while other names have been left out. When TVK general secretary Bussy Anand was named an accused, why was the name of Vijay, the president of the party, not included as an accused? Could justice be different for Vijay and Anand? Why should the police not file a case against four functionaries of the TVK and arrest two of them? On the other hand, Vijay is being given security. Then we can say there is a secret understanding between the DMK and Vijay. This discriminatory approach of the police is not acceptable. It raises questions as to whether they are pressured by, or afraid of, someone.”
He also faulted the NDA MPs’ team which, after meeting a few people, held the state government, police and the district administration responsible for the event. DMK allies are now accusing the BJP of supporting and cornering Vijay to join the NDA fold.
Former DMK minister V. Senthil Balaji dismissed the allegations on the tragedy, saying the state government took swift action, whereas it was the TVK that violated rules leading to the stampede.
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