One might ask, “Everybody leaves the body one day. So why scramble for power in skin and bone?”
Yet, through the ages, dynasties have risen and fallen, while the struggle for power over people and land never dies. From Alexander and Napoleon to Trump and Putin, the fight for dominion over the masses and territories remains fierce.
In southern India, Tamil Nadu now presents a similar scene. The battle-hardened DMK, the anxious AIADMK after the demise of Selvi Jayalalithaa, and the new kid on the block, TVK, all appear as recurring waves in the ocean of political legends and movie gods.
From Stage Shows to Silver Screen Politics
Before movie halls, there were stage shows — sweaty, enthusiastic theatres where South India’s pioneering actors learned not only to perform but also to gather persuasive fan followings. In those early days, drama and democracy merged on the stage of politics.
The story of South Indian politics was written not in Parliament but under the glow of oil lamps on crowded floors. Actors became persuasive orators, and the cheers of fans transformed into votes at the polling booth. From the theatre, leaders learned timing, emotion, and how to make their promises resonate.
From drama halls to modern multiscreen cinema complexes, Tamil Nadu’s political journey has always begun with a stage show — rehearsed, refined, and replayed every five years. Vijay has now made his way into this long lineage of actor-turned-politicians, waiting to script his own chapter on Tamil Nadu’s political stage.
Vijay and TVK’s Rise
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) rides on the shoulders of veteran Kollywood mass hero Vijay, thanks to his immense onscreen charisma, huge box office following, loyal fan base, and massive youth appeal.
We know how AIADMK once rose on M.G. Ramachandran’s superstardom and silver screen legacy. Vijay is the AI-age version of a box-office demigod, rising from the silver screen to the even more challenging stage of politics.
He calls for secular social justice, drawing on past political icons like Periyar, Ambedkar, and Kamaraj, sprinkling their principles into his speeches — partly in honor of them, partly to reinvent the political stage to his advantage.
(Representative image for illustrative purposes)
The Karur Tragedy
(Sources: World Socialist Web Site; OneIndia: NDTV)
Unfortunately, tragedy struck one of Vijay’s recent rallies. On Sep 27, 2025, a tsunami-like crowd rush occurred while he gave a speech at Velusamypuram, Karur, leading to a deadly stampede. At least 41 people died, and over 100 were injured.
The stampede reportedly happened after Vijay’s late arrival, as thousands merged with his followers, rushing toward his convoy. Only 10,000 people were allowed, but around 27,000 showed up. Police have filed charges against three TVK leaders; no FIR has been registered against Vijay. Some local reports and discussions on YouTube suggested people were wary about taking personal action against him before the elections, fearing that it could cause a sympathy wave.
According to an NDTV report, the DMK has accused TVK leadership of deliberately trying to mobilize crowds. Eyewitnesses and local reports suggested the incident was accidental, yet it highlighted the need for stricter safety measures at mass gatherings.
I still remember watching Vijay’s speech at Namakkal. Later, at Karur, the venue looked dangerously crowded. I told my brother,
“Why is Vijay’s bus stationary? It should leave now. The crowd is too much. And how dare some men bring kids on their shoulders even here? If there’s more delay, people will panic — and tomorrow’s headlines will be tragic.”
The next morning, my fears were realized.
Amid the chaos, Vijay also addressed TN controversies, including that of TASMAC—a political talk while an unfortunate tragedy was about to unfold.
The TASMAC Liquor Trade Irregularities
Crowd commotion intensified after Vijay referenced the recent probe into TASMAC irregularities during his speech. Pointing to the ₹10 extra charge per liquor bottle.He playfully sang,
“Bottleukku pathu rooba, Bottleukku pathu rooba…”
Reports dated March 13, 2025, allege large-scale irregularities in TASMAC tenders. Vijay has demanded an independent probe and called for transparency in the state’s alcohol trade.
So who will ally with whom?
The 2026 State Assembly elections are set to happen in April–May. And political parties are reportedly reshuffling alliances for strategic advantage. Let’s have a look at some excerpts from news reports on this:
13 Oct 2025 (TOI, report date): BJP state president Nainar Nagendran launched a drive throughout Tamil Nadu supporting a ‘natural alliance’ between BJP and AIADMK in a bid to overthrow the ruling DMK.
13 Oct 2025 (TOI, report date): AIADMK’s EPS said he has not discussed with Vijay post-stampede but did not rule out future alliances with TVK, pointing out that alliances usually happen as elections approach.
13 Oct 2025 (TOI, report date): Congress’ Su. Thirunavukkarasar confirmed the DMK-Congress partnership remains intact and called for a proper probe of the stampede.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Elections
The stage is set for one of Tamil Nadu’s most volatile polls in years. My late father, an ardent DMK fan, used to drag me to the polling booth every five years and whisper in my ears, “Vote for DMK!” Now, after his passing, I wonder whom to vote for, as it seems there aren’t many choices around.
The Karur stampede and TASMAC scandal will shape public perception, blending emotion, anger, and visions for the future. As alliances shift, cinema, fan following, political experience, and ideology will merge into a grand display of democracy.
Preventing Crowd Tragedies like Karur
The Karur crowd mishap underscores the urgent need for strict safety measures at large gatherings—whether political rallies of TVK or DMK, T10 Cricket events, celebrity meetups featuring Rajinikanth or Kamal Hassan, music concerts by AR Rahman or Ilayaraja, first-day-first-show movie releases, air shows, or religious events like Kumbh Mela, Ganesh idol immersions, Velankanni annual feast processions, or Muslim congregations.
Proper planning is essential, including:
- Ensure easy access to drinking water
- Maintain clear and spacious entry and exit routes
- Deploy adequate security personnel
- Manage crowds gently to prevent panic and chaos.
- Monitor the event continuously with CCTV
- Ensure sufficient ventilation for attendees
Events should be held in open spaces where people can exit freely, not in cramped roads or intersections. Organizers must conduct thorough risk assessments before allowing the event and prioritize attendee well-being to prevent tragedies.
Disclaimer: The images in this post are digitally generated and creatively modified illustrations and should not be interpreted as a real photo or factual depiction. The views expressed here are solely those of the author and are based on publicly available news sources.
Sources: Wikipedia; World Socialist Web Site; OneIndia; Mathrubhumi; India Today; NDTV; The Times of India
