Vijay’s return to a public stage comes with more caution than celebration. Months after the Karur stampede that killed 41 people, the actor-turned-politician and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief, is
stepping back into a live crowd — but only under some of the tightest restrictions ever placed on a campaign gathering in Puducherry.
TVK has confirmed that the actor will address supporters from the rooftop of his campaign bus. The team has stressed that this is not a roadshow but a single, controlled public meeting in accordance with police orders. His specially designed bus left Chennai on Monday, marking his first major outdoor appearance since the September incident.
Police initially refused permission when TVK applied for a roadshow, raising concerns about the locality’s cramped spaces. Authorization came only after the party agreed to a long list of conditions. Attendance has been capped at 5,000, all of them Puducherry residents, with entry allowed solely through QR-coded passes issued by the party. Reports say supporters from Tamil Nadu have been specifically barred.
To prevent any crowd surge, police have divided the venue into multiple enclosures, each holding 500 people. Around 800 personnel are being deployed, along with new CCTV cameras installed as per police instructions. TVK has been made responsible for water, toilets, ambulances and other basic facilities. The party has also urged pregnant women, the elderly, children and differently-abled citizens to stay home for safety reasons.
Supporters have been instructed not to climb buildings or trees, and not to follow Vijay’s vehicle before or after the event. The meeting will begin at 11 am and must end by 12:30 pm without exception.
The decision to hold this meet in Puducherry is seen as an attempt to deepen TVK’s influence in the Union Territory, where Vijay enjoys a huge fan base. His comeback to public campaigning comes even as the CBI inquiry into the Karur stampede continues. Vijay has repeatedly dismissed the Tamil Nadu government’s claim that his delayed arrival caused the tragedy, calling it a political attack by the DMK, while accusing the police of mismanagement — charges the administration denies.
After Puducherry, Vijay is expected to resume his Tamil Nadu tour, with Erode listed as his next major stop.
On the film front, Vijay’s last release was The Greatest of All Time (GOAT), which saw him in dual roles and drew massive crowds despite mixed reviews. The actor has already announced his shift toward full-time politics, making GOAT possibly one of his final big filmi outings, with fans still awaiting clarity on whether he will take up one more film before stepping away from cinema completely.
