Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai

Chennai, Oct 3: The political slugfest over last week’s Karur stampede — at a rally headlined by actor and TVK chief Vijay that claimed 41 lives — intensified on Friday as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin accused the BJP of exploiting the tragedy for electoral gains.

Stalin criticised the BJP for dispatching a delegation of opposition MPs to Karur while failing to send similar panels to BJP-ruled states during previous crises, including the 2023 ethnic violence in Manipur and the Maha Kumbh stampede in Uttar Pradesh.

“No probe panel was sent to Manipur or for Kumbh… but delegates were sent to Karur immediately,” the DMK leader said, alleging the BJP’s move was motivated by the upcoming state elections rather than genuine concern for Tamil Nadu.

Taking a swipe at the Centre, Stalin also questioned the decision to send Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman — a Rajya Sabha MP from Karnataka — to Karur as the Prime Minister’s representative. The remark comes amid ongoing friction between the state government and the Centre over fund allocation.

The BJP delegation, led by veteran actor-turned-MP Hema Malini, visited Karur on Tuesday to meet victims’ families. Hema Malini blamed the state administration for not providing a larger venue for the rally. “For a star of his stature, giving a small road was unfair. Many women and young girls had come to see Vijay. If a bigger space had been allotted, this tragedy would not have happened,” she said.

Meanwhile, the DMK has accused the TVK of ignoring police warnings about the swelling crowd, while the TVK has alleged a ‘conspiracy’ by the ruling party to destabilise it ahead of elections. Actor Vijay, in his first remarks since the incident, accused the Stalin-led government of “vendetta politics”.

The BJP delegation has demanded a report from the Chief Minister on the causes of the stampede and the measures planned to prevent such tragedies in the future.