Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and TVK president C. Joseph Vijay arrived in Karur on Friday, July 10, 2026. The visit carried special weight because it was his first appearance in Karur since a stampede at his party's rally on September 27, 2025 killed 41 people. During the visit, the Chief Minister handed over government job appointment letters to members of the 32 families affected by the stampede, raised pointed questions about police security arrangements on the day of the tragedy, levelled serious corruption charges against the previous DMK government, and announced a major decision to build a memorial for all 41 people who died in the stampede. Crowds thronged the streets of Karur through the day to catch a glimpse of the Chief Minister.
Local Leaders Welcome the Chief Minister
On arrival in Karur, Chief Minister Vijay was first welcomed by V.P. Mathiyalagan, TVK's Karur West district secretary. In a striking and sensitive detail, Mathiyalagan himself had been named an accused in the case related to the same September 27, 2025 stampede that killed 41 people, yet it was he who took on the responsibility of receiving the Chief Minister. Dairy Development Minister C. Vijayalakshmi also welcomed the Chief Minister and TVK president Vijay, addressing the gathering briefly and underlining the significance of his arrival in Karur.
Vijayabhaskar, Who Quit AIADMK to Join TVK, Gifts a Silver Sword
M.R. Vijayabhaskar, who recently resigned as the AIADMK MLA from Karur and joined TVK, presented Chief Minister and TVK president Vijay with a silver sword as a mark of honour during the event held at Atlas Kalaiyarangam in Karur on Friday. Speaking at the event, Vijayabhaskar said the youth are firmly standing behind Vijay, who he said has launched exactly the kind of political revolution that former Chief Minister and AIADMK founder M.G. Ramachandran, or MGR, had launched in 1977. He recalled that MGR came to power within just two years of forming his party, after which the entire country watched him closely. According to Vijayabhaskar, it is not just ordinary people but also several AIADMK workers who now stand with Vijay.
Targeting the then DMK government's policies, M.R. Vijayabhaskar said, 'In Karur, people living on temple inam land were evicted from their properties.' He directly appealed to Chief Minister Vijay to find a concrete solution to this long-standing problem at the earliest.
The Karur Stampede Is a Deep Wound in My Life: CM Vijay
Addressing the public meeting at Atlas Kalaiyarangam in Karur, Chief Minister Vijay recalled in detail the tragic events of September 27, 2025, when a stampede suddenly broke out during his party's rally, killing 41 people. In an emotional tone, he said, 'No matter how high a person climbs, there is always a deep wound somewhere in their life. The Karur stampede is one such wound in mine. During campaigning in Ariyalur, police advised me not to go to Perambalur because of the heavy crowds there; they could have given me the same advice before going from Namakkal to Karur, but instead they took me to Karur and I trusted them. They even have the authority to cancel a public meeting altogether.' Through this statement, Chief Minister Vijay clearly signalled that he was questioning the role of the police administration in the responsibility for the stampede.
Chief Minister Directly Questions Police Security Arrangements
On his first visit to Karur since the stampede that killed 41 people last September, Chief Minister Vijay put the police administration in the dock directly. He said, 'I am living with the pain of losing my brothers and sisters, and you (DMK) are still accusing me of hiding, asking whether I will say anything. But did the police arrange security in proportion to the crowd that had gathered in Karur that day?' He further alleged that DMK president M.K. Stalin had politicised the stampede on the floor of the assembly.
I Entered Politics Only to Serve the People: Vijay
TVK president and Chief Minister Vijay repeated in his speech, 'I have entered politics only to serve the people.' Addressing the public directly, he added, 'You have already given them a strong reply in the elections, but that is not enough. To keep them down for good, you will have to keep giving them such replies going forward. For me, my people matter more than money.'
Memorial to Be Built for the 41 Stampede Victims
During the same event, Chief Minister and TVK president Vijay made a major announcement. He said a memorial would be built by TVK in memory of all 41 people who lost their lives in the Karur stampede of September 2025. The announcement was made on Friday, July 10, 2026, at Atlas Kalaiyarangam in Karur, and is being seen as a gesture of solidarity with the victims' families.
Not a Single Rupee of Bribe Is Taken Under TVK Rule: Sharp Attack on Corruption
Chief Minister Vijay levelled serious corruption charges against the previous DMK government in his speech. He said, 'In every department, they (the DMK government) looted public money in the name of a party fund. When I mentioned this in the assembly, they fled. Those who used to say corruption can never be eradicated should go and see government offices today, not a single paisa is being taken as a bribe. People have breathed a sigh of relief, and we (the TVK government) are very happy about it.' In a warning tone, he added, 'What you have seen so far is just a sample. In the coming days, you will see our full form. They ask me to open my mouth, but the moment I started speaking, they ran away.'
CM Vijay Also Raises the Mekedatu Dispute
Chief Minister Vijay also brought up the Mekedatu dispute in his speech. Tamil Nadu's petition against Karnataka's detailed project report for a dam on the Cauvery river had been rejected by the Supreme Court during DMK rule. Raising this old issue, Vijay asked, 'Why did the Tamil Nadu government of that time not pursue the case properly?' Responding to criticism from the opposition, he said, 'They (the opposition) criticise me for not making a statement on this issue. There is no benefit in making empty noise. I believe in speaking less and doing more work.'
DMK's Vending Machine Jibe and a Veiled Attack on E.V. Velu
DMK had earlier mocked TVK as a washing machine over the induction of former AIADMK ministers facing corruption allegations into the party. Hitting back sharply, Chief Minister Vijay turned the jibe around, calling DMK itself a vending machine of corruption in electoral politics and repeatedly referring to it as theeya sakthi, or an evil force. He also took aim, without naming him directly, at former Highways Minister and senior DMK leader E.V. Velu, alleging that he fled to Singapore after the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, or DVAC, filed a case against him.
Just before concluding his speech at the event held at Atlas Kalaiyarangam in Karur, Chief Minister Vijay made an important appeal to the crowd, urging people not to pay a bribe to any government employee even if one is demanded.
Court Allows Government to Issue Appointment Letters
On the same day as the Chief Minister's visit to Karur, an important legal development also took place. The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court, on Friday, July 10, 2026, allowed the Tamil Nadu government to hand over government job appointment letters to the families of the Karur stampede victims. However, the court made it clear that these appointments would, for now, be made on a temporary basis and would remain subject to judicial review. The Madurai bench also permitted the Tamil Nadu government to hold a formal event to distribute the appointment letters, which is how the Chief Minister was able to hand over the letters to the 32 affected families on the same day.
Crowds Gather at Karur Collectorate, CM Given Guard of Honour
On Friday afternoon, Chief Minister and TVK president Vijay headed towards the Karur Collectorate to attend a government event. Large crowds thronged both sides of the streets along the way for a glimpse of him. On arriving at the Karur Collectorate, Chief Minister Vijay was formally welcomed with a guard of honour, after which he took part in the government event related to the distribution of the appointment letters.
