Chennai: Actor-turned-politician Vijay on Thursday addressed a massive public rally in Tamil Nadu’s Erode district, marking his first major event in the state since the September 27 stampede in Karur that claimed 41 lives. Using strong and polarising language, Vijay set the tone for his campaign ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election, branding the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) as an “evil force” while projecting his party, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), as a “pure force”.
Addressing a large gathering in Erode on Thursday afternoon, Vijay said the political contest in Tamil Nadu was a battle between good and evil. “I repeat… the DMK is an evil force and the TVK is a pure force. The fight is between the pure force and the evil,” he said, drawing loud cheers from supporters. His brief speech concluded with an appeal to the crowd to disperse peacefully and follow safety instructions.
Strong criticism of DMK on governance issues
Throughout his address, Vijay launched a scathing attack on the DMK government, accusing it of failing on multiple fronts, including law and order and education. Referring to the controversy surrounding Tamil Nadu’s demand for exemption from the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), Vijay alleged that the DMK had failed to deliver on its promises.
“DMK and problems are attached with Fevicol. They cannot be separated,” he remarked, suggesting that governance issues were inseparable from the ruling party. Vijay has repeatedly described the DMK as his primary political adversary, a stance that was reiterated at the Erode rally.
The rally followed Vijay’s earlier post-stampede public appearance in Puducherry last week, where he had similarly targeted the DMK and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, including a pointed remark about Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy providing “full security”.
Shadow of Karur stampede looms large
Thursday’s rally was Vijay’s second large-scale public event since the tragic stampede in Karur during a TVK event on September 27, which resulted in the death of 41 people. The incident had sparked a political storm, with the DMK accusing the TVK of failing to follow police instructions, while Vijay alleged that inadequate security arrangements were responsible for the tragedy.
The Karur incident continues to cast a shadow over Vijay’s political rise, with criticism mounting over what was seen by some as a delayed response from the actor-politician. A First Information Report (FIR) related to the stampede noted that crowds had gathered hours before Vijay arrived at the venue.
Tight security and elaborate police arrangements
Given the sensitivity surrounding large gatherings after the Karur tragedy, police implemented elaborate security arrangements for the Erode rally. More than 1,300 police personnel were deployed to manage an expected crowd of around 35,000 people.
Officials divided the rally venue into 72 “public boxes”, each limited to a maximum of 500 people, to prevent overcrowding. Attendees were warned against bursting firecrackers or following Vijay’s convoy. Authorities also restricted access for pregnant women, women with infants and children, and persons with physical disabilities, citing safety concerns.
Police further prohibited people from climbing nearby trees or accessing terraces of private buildings, and restricted movement near power transformers and other critical infrastructure.
Political significance of Erode district
The choice of Erode as the rally venue carried strong political symbolism. Erode district and western Tamil Nadu are widely regarded as Dravidian ideological strongholds, particularly as Erode is the birthplace of social reformer E.V. Ramasamy, popularly known as Periyar. Vijay is widely seen as attempting to invoke this legacy to establish his socio-political credentials among Tamil voters.
Erode district has eight Assembly constituencies, including Erode East, Erode West and Anthiyur, all of which are currently held by the DMK. Of the remaining seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party holds one, Modakkurichi, while the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) holds four.
One of these, Gobichettipalayam, is considered particularly significant. An AIADMK stronghold since 1977, except for a brief DMK victory in 1996, it is also the political bastion of senior leader K.A. Sengottaiyan.
Sengottaiyan’s presence adds weight
The rally was held close to Sengottaiyan’s hometown of Vijayamangalam, lending added political significance. Sengottaiyan, regarded as a seasoned strategist, joined Vijay’s TVK last month after being expelled from the AIADMK by party leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami.
Winning Gobichettipalayam and making inroads in Erode district would be a major symbolic victory for Vijay and his party, especially as TVK prepares for its electoral debut in the 2026 Assembly polls.
Challenges ahead for Vijay and TVK
Vijay’s entry into electoral politics follows the path taken by iconic Tamil cinema stars such as M.G. Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa, both of whom went on to become chief ministers. However, Vijay faces significant challenges.
He must break into a political landscape dominated for decades by the DMK and the AIADMK, while also addressing the negative publicity and questions surrounding crowd management following the Karur stampede.
The TVK has made it clear that it views both the DMK and the BJP as its ideological rivals and has categorically ruled out any pre-poll alliances.
Conclusion
The Erode rally marked a decisive moment in Vijay’s political journey, signalling an aggressive and confrontational campaign strategy ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. While the actor-politician has succeeded in drawing crowds and attention, how he navigates governance-related criticism and safety concerns will be crucial in determining whether his cinematic popularity can translate into electoral success.