Live: TVK President and TN CM Vijay visits Karur, promises memorial for victims of stampede

As the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and TVK president C. Joseph Vijay traveled towards the Karur Collectorate for a state event, large numbers of residents lined up on the streets this Friday afternoon (July 10, 2026).

The Madras High Court's Madurai Bench on Friday (July 10, 2026) cleared the Tamil Nadu administration to hand over job placement orders to families who lost members in the Karur stampede. The court noted that these roles would be temporary and remain subject to further judicial evaluation. In addition, the Madurai Bench allowed the state government to hold a dedicated ceremony for distributing these employment orders.

Before winding up his address at the TVK-organized gathering at Karur's Atlas Kalaiarangam on Friday, he exhorted citizens to reject demands for bribery.

Without naming him directly, Vijay criticized senior DMK leader and former Highways Minister E.V. Velu for escaping to Singapore after the DVAC registered a case.

Labeling the DMK as an 'evil force' (theeya sakthi) repeatedly, TVK leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay responded to the Dravidian party's 'washing machine' jibe. The DMK had targeted TVK for admitting former AIADMK ministers who are facing corruption charges. In response, Vijay described the DMK as a political corruption 'vending machine'.

Addressing the Mekedatu dispute, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay remarked: 'Under the DMK's administration, the Supreme Court dismissed the state's petition challenging Karnataka's DPR for building a dam over the Cauvery. Why did the previous Tamil Nadu government fail to argue their position properly at that time?' Vijay further commented: 'The opposition attacks me for not issuing a statement on this. Making empty noises accomplishes nothing; I prefer to speak less and focus on actions.'

While speaking at Atlas Kalaiarangam in Karur on Friday, Chief Minister Vijay claimed, 'The DMK government looted public money under the guise of "party funds" across every single department. When I brought this up inside the Assembly, they fled. Those who claimed corruption could never be wiped out should look at our offices now; not a single paisa is accepted as a bribe. People are relieved, and our TVK government is incredibly happy.' He added, 'What has happened so far is just a preview; you will witness our grand avatar (viswaroopam) in the coming days. They challenge me to speak up, but when I start talking, they run away.'

TVK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay announced during the event at Atlas Kalaiarangam on Friday (July 10, 2026) that his party will establish a memorial to honor the 41 victims of the tragic September 2025 stampede in Karur.

TVK chief and Tamil Nadu CM C. Joseph Vijay declared, 'My sole purpose in entering politics is to serve the citizens.' He told the crowd, 'You delivered a strong message to them during the elections, but that is not sufficient. You must keep delivering such answers to permanently keep them down. To me, my people are far more valuable than money.'

'I carry the deep pain of losing my brothers and sisters, yet the DMK continues to target me, claiming I went into hiding and asking if I will speak. However, did the police deploy security that matched the size of the crowd gathered in Karur that day?' Vijay questioned during his first visit to Karur since the September tragedy that claimed 41 lives. He also accused DMK president M.K. Stalin of playing politics with the incident inside the Assembly.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay noted, 'No matter what heights a person reaches, there will always be a deep scar. The Karur stampede is one such wound in my life. During my campaign in Ariyalur, police officers advised me not to visit Perambalur due to heavy crowds. They had the opportunity to give me similar advice before I left Namakkal for Karur, but they guided me directly into Karur and I trusted their word. They even possess the authority to call off a meeting.'

TVK leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay began his speech at Atlas Kalaiarangam in Karur by reflecting on the events of September 27, 2025, when a tragic stampede at a party rally took 41 lives.

Criticizing the previous DMK government, M.R. Vijayabhaskar noted, 'In Karur, residents living on temple Inam lands were evicted from their homes.' He appealed to Chief Minister Vijay to find a resolution to this issue.

According to M.R. Vijayabhaskar, the youth are lining up behind Vijay, who has initiated a major shift similar to the revolution led by former Chief Minister and AIADMK founder M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) in 1977. He added that the entire nation is observing Vijay, who has swept into power within just two years of establishing his party, with AIADMK workers also backing his leadership.

At the Atlas Kalaiarangam event in Karur on Friday (July 10, 2026), M.R. Vijayabhaskar, who recently joined TVK after stepping down as the AIADMK MLA for Karur, presented a silver sword to TVK chief and Chief Minister Vijay.

Dairy Development Minister C. Vijayalakshmi delivered a brief address to welcome Chief Minister and TVK president C. Joseph Vijay.

Karur West district secretary for TVK, V.P. Mathiyazhagan, welcomed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on his maiden visit to Karur since last year's stampede. During this trip, the CM will present job letters to 32 families affected by the tragedy. Mathiyazhagan was previously named as an accused in the case involving the Karur stampede, which resulted in 41 deaths during a TVK rally on September 27, 2025.