In a fiery comeback after the Karur tragedy that claimed 41 lives, Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor-turned-politician Vijay has thrown down the gauntlet to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and the ruling DMK. Speaking at TVK’s first major public meeting since the incident, Vijay accused the DMK government of “narrow-minded politics,” alleging that it mishandled police permissions for his events, restricted his movements, and orchestrated a smear campaign to tarnish his image after the Karur disaster. Declaring that the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election will be a “direct fight between TVK and DMK,” Vijay announced himself as TVK’s Chief Ministerial candidate and unveiled 12 key resolutions, including one authorising him to decide future alliances. Turning the page on the tragedy, Vijay rallied supporters by calling the event a “temporary setback” and vowed to lead a clean, people-centric political movement. His sharp attack has jolted Tamil Nadu’s political landscape, signalling a major shift as he positions TVK as the principal challenger to the DMK’s long-held dominance ahead of 2026.
