Six months after stampede, Karur still awaits Vijay’s visit

Trichy: TVK chief Vijay's no-show in Karur for an election campaign even six months after the stampede at his rally, in which 41 people lost their lives, has left party cadres, functionaries, and supporters upset. While they do not hold him responsible for the incident, they are unhappy that the actor-turned-politician has not returned to put the criticism to rest.For TVK and Vijay, the stampede remains a defining moment—not only because of the magnitude of what transpired on September 27, but also due to the politicisation of the tragic event that followed, supporters say. "He ideally should have contested from here. That would have sent a strong message to critics and perhaps proved his mettle," said S Bhuvanesh, 23, a TVK supporter. A TVK district functionary said, "There is no anger against Vijay within the party. We all went through an emotional phase after the incident. However, he has promised to visit every village, place and people in Tamil Nadu after he wins the election."Karur West district secretary and Karur candidate V P Mathiazhagan, said "There have been issues in obtaining permission and ensuring adequate security. In Trichy, security arrangements were good, but in some places, he had to cut short his campaign without speaking due to inadequate protection."In Trichy, permission was granted to hold a functionaries' meeting on April 14. However, TVK called it off. "While other candidates have been campaigning every day, one more campaign by Vijay in Trichy could make a difference in Trichy East seat, where he is also contesting," said TVK supporter G Satyaseelan, 23.Political observers say his inability to visit constituencies has forced candidates to compensate by using statues in campaign vehicles, lookalikes, and even hologram AI technology.