Search Leaders on Ground, Not on Screen: The Karur Tragedy and Its Harsh Lessons

 

(An unprepared Actor Vijay's rally caused 41 deaths in a stampede, sparking a debate on celebrity politics and the need for regulation.)

The recent stampede tragedy at Karur on 27th September 2025 has left an indelible scar on Tamil Nadu's political landscape. Forty-one lives were lost—including 10 children and 18 young women—at a political rally conducted by popular actor Vijay. This man-made disaster, as aptly described by the Madras High Court, demands serious introspection about the dangerous trend of elevating screen idols to political pedestals without adequate preparation or experience.

The Rise of Celebrity Politics in South India

Actor Vijay, supposed to be one of the highest-paid actors in India, and reportedly commanding Rs 150-200 crores per film, launched his new party "Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam" (TVK) a few months ago. The launch witnessed an unprecedented crowd, fuelled by the frenzy that characterises fan culture in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana—the only States where popular actors are literally worshipped and their film dialogues are accepted as gospel truth.

The southern States have indeed witnessed successful political transitions by actors. M.G. Ramachandran (MGR), Jayalalithaa, and N.T. Rama Rao became Chief Ministers, leveraging their massive fan bases to build enduring political legacies. Their parties continue to survive and thrive even today. However, there is a critical difference that sets them apart from the current generation of actor-politicians.

The Missing Foundation: Political Apprenticeship

Before floating their own parties, both MGR and NTR were deeply entrenched in politics and maintained continuous engagement with people's problems. They understood the grassroots, the machinery of governance, and the weight of political responsibility. Before assuming the leadership of AIADMK, Jayalalithaa underwent rigorous political training under her mentor MGR and even served as a Member of Parliament. They paid their dues, learnt the craft, and earned their stripes in the political arena.

In stark contrast, actor Vijay's entry into politics appears to be driven primarily by the euphoria of his cinematic success. His fan clubs routinely sell tickets at exorbitant prices and indulge in 'Milk Abhishekam (anointing)' of his cut-outs during film releases. This frenzy apparently enthused him to believe that cinematic fame alone could translate into electoral success—a dangerous delusion that has now cost precious lives.

The Structural Weaknesses of TVK

Vijay's party suffers from fundamental structural deficiencies. His top office bearers and district functionaries are neither trained politically nor are they seasoned ground workers. The party appears to be run by advisers lacking working knowledge of political systems. More alarmingly, Vijay himself remained largely inaccessible to his own leaders and party workers—an unsustainable model for any political organisation.

The actor was led to believe that his cinematic fame and massive fan following could sweep all Assembly seats and make him the Chief Minister without any alliance. His supporters, predominantly in the age group of  less than 25 years, possess tremendous energy but lack political acumen. Tragically, even these enthusiastic fans were kept at arm's length, with 'bouncers' physically pushing them away. Vijay's interactions with crowds were limited to reading emotionally-charged scripts peppered with cinematic 'punch dialogues'—a far cry from genuine political engagement.

In overconfidence and without grasping ground realities, Vijay declared all major parties—DMK, AIADMK, and BJP—as his enemies. Such brinkmanship might work in cinema, but politics demands coalition-building, negotiation, and strategic alliances.

The Fateful Day: 27th September 2025

The tragedy unfolded with cruel predictability. Though Vijay announced he would address the public rally at 12 noon in Karur, he arrived seven hours late, forcing the crowd to wait without adequate water or food. Anxious to see their idol, people had begun gathering from 8 am itself, many bringing their children along.

Despite being denied permission to conduct a 'road show', Vijay's large bus moved slowly along the highways, followed by thousands of followers. During this rally, whilst Vijay was speaking from atop the bus, 41 people died from stampede, suffocation, and dehydration.

The Inexcusable Response

What happened next exposes the hollowness of celebrity-driven politics. Despite knowing about the crisis, Vijay and his team left the venue and proceeded to Tiruchirappalli to board a private jet to Chennai. Whilst Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, the Opposition leader, and representatives from other parties visited the hospitals that very night, not a single TVK functionary was seen comforting the victims or their families.

The police blamed Vijay for not following guidelines and arriving late to deliberately inflate crowd numbers for self-promotion. TVK leaders, in turn, blamed the police for not allotting adequate space—conveniently ignoring that the Opposition leader had addressed a rally at the same venue with similar crowd strength just two days earlier without incident.

The Madras High Court condemned Vijay and his team for abandoning the scene without caring for those who died during his rally. Adding insult to injury, Vijay released a video statement three days after the incident—speaking in a conspicuously 'husky' voice—blaming the government for the entire tragedy. Shockingly, as a leader, he offered no apology to the families of the deceased who had come to support him.

One of his General Secretaries further inflamed the situation by tweeting a call for youngsters to engage in revolution, citing Nepal and Bangladesh as examples. The High Court took serious note of this irresponsible provocation and ordered immediate action. The ruling NDA government at Delhi has dispatched a delegation of eight MPs to study the situation and submit a report. The Madras High Court has now ordered an investigation by a senior police officer.

Lessons That Must Be Learnt

With 41 lives lost and nearly a hundred people still under treatment, the general public must recognise a fundamental truth: film actors without political experience cannot be effective rulers. We must search for leaders on the ground, not on screen.

Vijay may be an excellent entertainer, but that does not qualify him to govern a State. It would be akin to making actor Vijay the captain of the Indian cricket team solely due to his popularity. Every profession demands its own competencies and skills. Entertainment and governance require entirely different skill sets.

Film personalities who aspire to political leadership must first equip themselves thoroughly in the political field. MGR, Jayalalithaa, and NTR succeeded because of their prolonged exposure to politics before launching their parties. Many actors—including Chiranjeevi and Sivaji Ganesan—failed in politics despite their cinematic popularity, precisely because they lacked this foundation.

From Fans to Political Workers: The Critical Transition

Popular film stars are undoubtedly powerful influencers, particularly among youth. However, fans who promote films are not automatically political workers. This transformation requires conscious effort, training, and mentorship. Vijay's fans were never converted into political workers. We have witnessed them climbing trees and jumping from floor to floor merely to catch a glimpse of their favourite actor. Due to his lack of political experience, Vijay enjoyed these spectacles without recognising the risks involved. He never cautioned or warned his fans to behave responsibly.

This lack of leadership, coupled with inexperienced functionaries at top and district levels, directly led to this tragedy. Even after such a catastrophe, Vijay and his team showed no genuine concern and fled the scene. One must ask: what would happen if Vijay becomes Chief Minister and similarly abandons responsibility when facing a governance crisis?

The Way Forward: Regulation and Accountability

Vijay urgently needs guidance from experienced political leaders before continuing his political journey. Moreover, this tragedy underscores the necessity for comprehensive regulation.

PreSense appeals to both the State and Central Governments to frame suitable laws and guidelines for political rallies, clearly defining accountability mechanisms for future implementation. Such regulations must include:

·                   Mandatory crowd management protocols

·                   Strict adherence to timelines announced by organisers

·                   Provision of basic amenities (water, medical facilities, sanitation)

·                   Criminal and civil liability for organisers in case of negligence

·                   Mandatory insurance coverage for attendees

·                   Clear demarcation of responsibilities between organisers and law enforcement

The Karur tragedy is a wake-up call. Celebrity status cannot substitute political competence. Cinematic success does not qualify one for governance. And most importantly, the lives of ordinary citizens cannot be sacrificed at the altar of political ambition.

It is time we learnt to search for our leaders on the ground—among those who have worked with people, understood their problems, and demonstrated commitment to public service—not on the screen based on the ‘punch dialogue’ delivered by the hero who vanquishes villains in two hours of carefully scripted fantasy.

The 41 lives lost at Karur deserve this much from us: that we never again confuse entertainment with governance, or stardom with statesmanship.

Source: This was the cover story published in Sep 2025 edition of Presense