In brief
Indian actor-turned-politician Vijay finds himself in the eye of a storm following a tragic crush at a party rally in Tamil Nadu that resulted in 40 deaths. With the opposition blaming the government, the police pointing fingers at the rally's organizers, and calls for investigations echoing, this incident raises serious questions about safety at political events. Who is Vijay and why did he leave acting for a political life? Read on to discover his fascinating journey from stardom to politics amidst growing chaos.
An Indian superstar-turned-politician is at the centre of a massive row after 40 people died in a crush at his party's rally on Saturday. Tens of thousands turned up at the campaign event held by Vijay in Karur district, Tamil Nadu. The actor was in the middle of his speech when the crowd surged unexpectedly.
The tragedy has sparked a blame game, with the opposition accusing government officials of not providing adequate police to control the crowds. Police officials, however, state that the rally's organizers underestimated the anticipated crowd size.
Who is Vijay?
Vijay, 51, is one of the most popular actors in Tamil Nadu, lauded for his roles in box-office hits. Born to a film director and singer, he has had a long-standing career, even acting as a child. His fans affectionately call him Ilaya Thalapathy, or Young Commander, reflecting his significant fan base.
Since launching his political party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), his rallies have seen overwhelming crowds, leading to concerns about safety and crowd control.
What will happen now?
As investigations are set to begin, questions loom over Vijay's political future and the safety of political events in India. Despite the ongoing crisis, actions from the Tamil Nadu government remain cautious, given Vijay's enormous popularity.
"publishedTime": "2025-09-29T08:21:02.370Z", "reporter": "Sharanya Hrishikesh and Neyaz Farooquee, BBC News, Delhi"
