Actor-politician Vijay mounted a sharp attack on both the Tamil Nadu government and the BJP-led Centre at a massive public meeting in Puducherry, his first major rally since the stampede at a TVK event in Karur.
He used the occasion to pitch himself as a clean alternative to the “corrupt and indifferent” Dravidian majors, accusing the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu and the BJP at the Centre of failing ordinary people on issues ranging from price rise to basic governance.
Vijay also framed the rally as a message that his political movement would not be confined by state borders, underlining Puducherry’s cultural and economic ties with Tamil Nadu.
Speaking at length about the Karur tragedy, Vijay paid homage to the victims and reiterated that his organisation bore moral responsibility for what happened. He said the incident had forced him to introspect on crowd management and organisational discipline, and promised that future events would prioritise safety over spectacle.
At the same time, he accused the DMK government of using the tragedy for political mudslinging instead of working with his outfit to ensure justice and better systems. He argued that compassion and accountability, not vindictiveness, should define a government’s response when lives are lost.
Turning his guns on the DMK, Vijay alleged that the ruling party had forgotten its promises on corruption-free administration, youth employment and law and order. He highlighted what he described as everyday struggles of the poor and middle class: high cost of living, uneven welfare delivery and a sense that only those with political connections get opportunities.
According to him, Tamil Nadu needs a government that focuses on schools, hospitals and jobs rather than “photo-op politics” and personal attacks on opponents. He urged DMK leaders to “learn from Puducherry”, pointing to the enthusiastic participation of people there as proof that voters are ready to listen to new alternatives.
Vijay also targeted the Union government, accusing it of centralising power and ignoring southern states’ concerns on issues such as GST devolution, fuel prices and federal rights. He said the Centre cannot claim development while unemployment and inequality remain high, and warned that citizens are losing patience with governments that remember them only during elections.
Without explicitly naming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he argued that the current national leadership puts publicity ahead of people’s problems, and that young voters in particular are searching for a politics rooted in dignity and fairness.