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TVK chief Vijay to appear before CBI in Karur stampede probe

TVK leader Vijay will appear before the CBI in Delhi as part of the probe into the Karur stampede that claimed 41 lives during a political rally in 2024.

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Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor Vijay is set to appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Delhi on Monday in connection with the Karur stampede case that claimed 41 lives. The incident occurred on September 27 last year during a massive political rally addressed by Vijay, making it one of the deadliest crowd-related tragedies in Tamil Nadu’s recent political history.

Supreme Court handed probe to CBI

The investigation into the stampede has undergone multiple legal changes. Initially, the Madras High Court had constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident. However, the Supreme Court later transferred the case to the CBI, directing that the investigation be monitored by a panel headed by a retired Supreme Court judge.

The apex court also set aside a one-member commission earlier appointed by the Tamil Nadu government, observing that the matter required a more independent and credible inquiry. Notably, TVK itself had sought an independent probe into the tragedy.

A senior party source told media that Vijay would cooperate fully with the investigation and expressed hope that the truth would emerge through the CBI inquiry.

Police and Vijay trade blame

Following the stampede, the Tamil Nadu Police had attributed the chaos to Vijay’s alleged delay in reaching the venue, claiming the prolonged wait led to an uncontrollable surge of the crowd. Police officials had also pointed to inadequate arrangements such as food, drinking water and toilet facilities, stating that the situation worsened as the crowd grew restless.

Vijay rejected these allegations, calling them a conspiracy by the ruling DMK, a charge the party has denied. He, in turn, blamed the police for poor crowd management and failure to clear bottlenecks on approach roads leading to the rally venue.

Film certification issue adds political edge

Vijay’s appearance before the CBI comes amid a separate controversy over the delay in certification of his film Jana Nayagan, which was originally slated for release ahead of Pongal. While a single judge of the Madras High Court had directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to grant certification, a division bench later stayed the order and adjourned the matter to January 21. Neither Vijay nor TVK has officially commented on the issue.

Opposition leaders, including those from the Congress, have alleged that central agencies are being used to exert pressure on TVK ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections due in a few months. Chief Minister MK Stalin recently remarked that the CBFC had “joined the list of central agencies being used as weapons by the Union government.”

The BJP has rejected these allegations. The party has also denied speculation that it is indirectly aiding TVK to split anti-DMK votes following its renewed alliance with the AIADMK.

Political stakes ahead of elections

Vijay has repeatedly described the upcoming Assembly election as a direct contest between the ruling DMK and TVK, referring to the DMK as his “political enemy” and the BJP as his “ideological enemy.”

Responding to questions on whether the ongoing CBI probe could make the party vulnerable to political pressure, a senior TVK leader said the party had faith in the investigation and would approach the courts if any undue pressure was applied.

India News

PM Modi thanks voters of West Bengal, hails Syama Prasad Mookerjee dream

PM Narendra Modi welcomes BJP crossing majority in West Bengal, calling it a historic mandate by the people.

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PM Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi credited the BJP’s victory in the elections to the West Bengal Assembly elections 2026 to the people of the state and each and every party worker who has suffered in promoting the party and disseminating its message over the last 30-odd years. He thanked the people of Assam for re-electing the party.

Addressing party workers at the BJP headquarters, Modi invoked Jana Sangh found Syama Prasad Mookerjee, who worked for the purpose of a united Bengal, and Sri Aurobindo and said their spirits will be at peace at last. Paying paeans to the vision of Tagore, he recounted that the Nobel laureate had wished for a country where one can hold one’s head high without fear.
The PM said the people of Bengal have chosen the governance model of the party. He promised jobs for the youth, increased safety for women. He said the first cabinet meeting will implement Ayushman Bharat in the state. In the same breath, he promised to act against infiltrators decisively.
Pointing to the violence-less election this time, he said not one citizen has been hurt or killed while it many have died in previous polls.
He appealed to the workers of other parties to end the cycle of violence that had plagued the state for all this time and instead serve Bengal and its people.
The problems posed by the war in Iran found place in the PM’s speech. He noted that the whole country is at a disadvantage but people are soldiering on to achieve Viksit Bharat.
Referring to the importance of nari shakti in the development of India, he took potshots at the Congress and other opposition parties for opposing the women’s reservation bill. Modi reminded the audience that he had warned the Congress, Trinamool Congress and DMK for opposing it and they have been taught a lesson. Referring to Kerala, he said the BJP will see gains in the future. He mocked the Communist Party of India (Marxist) for not having any government left in the country after the loss of the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front in Kerala.
Attacking the Congress, he said it has become the hub of urban naxals and said the people have thrown out communist thought in the country. The Congress has no understanding of the aspirations of the people. The BJP will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Tamil Nadu and Kerala as well, he said.

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BJP crosses majority in West Bengal, PM Narendra Modi says lotus blooms in first reaction

PM Modi hails BJP’s majority in West Bengal, calling it a historic mandate and thanking voters across the state.

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pm modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday welcomed the Bharatiya Janata Party’s strong performance in the West Bengal Assembly elections 2026, saying the “lotus has bloomed” in the state as the party crossed the majority mark in early results.

In a post on X, Modi thanked the people of West Bengal and described the outcome as a reflection of public trust. He said he bows to every voter for their support, adding that the mandate reflects faith in governance and development-focused politics.

The BJP’s surge in the 294-seat assembly marks a significant political shift in the state, where the party has not previously formed a government. The results indicate a major challenge to the long-standing dominance of the Trinamool Congress.

The election is part of a broader round of state polls across India, where the BJP has shown strong momentum. The party’s performance in West Bengal is being seen as one of the most significant developments in this election cycle.

With counting trends favouring the BJP, focus now turns to final results and the formation of the new government in the state.

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Stalin loses Kolathur seat in Tamil Nadu results 2026 as TVK’s VS Babu scores upset

Media reports suggest MK Stalin has lost his Kolathur stronghold to TVK’s VS Babu in Tamil Nadu election results 2026.

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MK Stalin

In a significant political development in the Tamil Nadu Assembly election results 2026, Chief Minister M. K. Stalin is reported to have lost the Kolathur constituency, according to media reports based on counting data.

As per these reports, Stalin was defeated by V. S. Babu of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), marking a notable upset in a seat long regarded as a stronghold of the DMK leader.

Kolathur, located in Chennai, has been closely associated with Stalin for years, making the reported outcome particularly significant in the current election cycle. Earlier counting trends had indicated a tight contest, with Stalin trailing before the result was reported.

The development comes amid a strong showing by actor-turned-politician Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, which has performed competitively across several constituencies in the state, according to media reports.

While the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has been leading in multiple seats, the reported loss in Kolathur is being viewed as a key moment in the party’s overall performance.

Final results across Tamil Nadu are still being compiled as counting continues.

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