Vijay kicks off TVK rally in Puducherry amid tight security
Vijay kicks off TVK rally in Puducherry amid tight security
Actor-politician Vijay launches his Puducherry campaign with stiff crowd controls, criticizing the Union government while pressing for statehood and development.
In Puducherry, Vijay held his first public TVK rally amid tight security, with police enforcing a cap of 5,000 attendees and entry controlled through QR-code passes. Only residents of the Union Territory were admitted, and entry for residents of Tamil Nadu was restricted as crowds swelled around the Uppalam Expo Ground.
Vijay attacked the Union government and the BJP, arguing that Puducherry has been neglected on statehood, development projects, an IT park and even basic facilities like parking spaces. He praised the local government for providing security for the event and asserted that Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are effectively one in the public eye. He urged voters not to trust the DMK here, while drawing a parallel to M. G. Ramachandran’s pioneering political moves in the region, noting how he founded the AIADMK in Puducherry before expanding in Tamil Nadu.
There was a scare when security stopped a man carrying what he claimed was a licensed handgun from entering the venue; police later said the incident was contained and that the man was detained. The episode underscored the heightened security posture in the wake of the Karur stampede tragedy, which prompted tightening crowd controls at rallies across the region.
Rangasamy's government had initially refused permission for a rally but allowed this public meeting in an open space, with the security arrangement designed to keep participants orderly while preventing overcrowding. Vijay framed the rally in the context of upcoming elections in 2026, pledging to continue highlighting Puducherry’s demands for statehood and development, and urging voters to hold central and territorial authorities to account.
As the event concluded, attendees reflected on the blend of nostalgia and new political messaging, and on what a potential statehood status could mean for Puducherry’s future.
Cover image source: TVK chief Vijay’s public meeting in Puducherry begins amid strict crowd control measures 🔗
