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Tamil Nadu assembly saw heated DMK and AIADMK clashes over the Karur stampede at Vijay’s TVK rally, which killed 41
The Supreme Court has ordered a CBI probe into the stampede during the TVK’s rally in Karur on September 27. (Photos: PTI file)
The Tamil Nadu Assembly witnessed fiery scenes on Wednesday as members of the ruling DMK and opposition AIADMK clashed over the Karur stampede that claimed 41 lives during actor-turned-politician Vijay’s TVK rally.
Chief Minister MK Stalin held Vijay responsible for arriving at the venue seven hours late on September 27, triggering chaos among the massive crowd.
“I offer my condolences to all those who lost their loved ones… The party (TVK) had sought permission for a rally, and several venues were denied due to traffic concerns. Later, the district secretary identified another location, and approval was granted under 11 conditions. Police anticipated a huge turnout. Permission was given from 3 pm to 10 pm, and the party had assured that the leader would arrive by noon. But he arrived only at 7 pm. This delay led to congestion,” Stalin told the House.
The Chief Minister accused TVK organisers of poor crowd management, adding that attendees were left without food or water. He informed the Assembly that his government responded immediately after the tragedy and that he personally visited Karur.
To prevent such incidents in future, Stalin announced that the government is drafting Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for public rallies. He urged the opposition not to politicise the tragedy.
AIADMK leader and former Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami questioned why permission was granted to TVK but denied to his party for a similar rally in Karur.
“When we sought permission for our event in Karur, it was rejected. The police then claimed the venue was too small. How did the same authorities approve it for TVK?” the former CM asked.
Palaniswami alleged that the tragedy could have been avoided had adequate security arrangements been in place.
“The CM mentioned 606 policemen were deployed, while police officials in their briefing spoke of only 500 personnel. The government failed to take sufficient precautionary measures,” Palaniswami remarked, accusing the Chief Minister of indulging in cheap politics.
The Supreme Court has ordered a CBI probe into the stampede during the TVK’s rally in Karur on September 27. A three-member committee, headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ajay Rastogi, will monitor the CBI probe for a fair and impartial investigation into the tragedy.
Among the 41 deceased, 18 were women, 15 were men, five young girls, and five boys fell victim.
Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter –twitter.com/saurabhkverma19
Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter –twitter.com/saurabhkverma19
Chennai [Madras], India, India
October 15, 2025, 13:46 IST
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