Tamil Nadu’s political scene is shifting after the tragic stampede at actor-politician Vijay’s Karur rally, which killed 41 people. Major parties have used the tragedy as a pretext to court Vijay’s Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) ahead of the 2026 assembly elections, which could change the nature of the opposition’s struggle against the incumbent DMK.

Why is TVK Suddenly a Pivot for Alliances?

Vijay’s TVK represents a vast, untested vote bank built from his massive fan following. Both the BJP and its ally, the AIADMK, see the post-stampede period as a critical window to bring the fledgling party into their fold. The BJP is actively reaching out to incorporate TVK into the NDA. Concurrently, the Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS)-led AIADMK is reconsidering its own choices with Vijay, an alliance i

See Full Page