Karur, located in the Cauvery delta belt, grabbed national headlines in September 2025, after a tragic stampede at actor-politician C Joseph Vijay’s rally claimed around 40 lives. Months later, the scars remain, especially among older residents even as the youth appear largely undeterred, continuing to back Vijay’s political foray.
The electoral battle in Karur remains, at its core, a contest between the Dravidian heavyweights — the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) despite the impact of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The campaign has been relatively subdued in recent days, though both sides accuse each other of distributing cash to voters. “This is the sad state of affairs of today’s politics,” remarked a party cadre.
The constituency has long revolved around two prominent leaders — V Senthil Balaji and MR Vijayabhaskar. Balaji has won the seat three times — in 2006 and 2011 as an AIADMK candidate, and later with the DMK in 2021 — when he defeated Vijayabaskar by a margin of 12,448 votes, in a high-turnout voting of nearly 85 per cent. Vijayabhaskar tasted victory once in 2016.
This time, though, Vijayabhaskar is confident of defeating the lesser known DMK opponent Aasee M Thiagarajan, a close confidante of Senthil Balaji, who has moved to contest from Coimbatore (South). “This could make it easier for Vijayabaskar to reclaim the seat,” said Manickam, a long-time resident.
Meanwhile, the memory of the stampede still lingers in Velusamypuram on the Karur–Erode road, where a crowd of over 27,000 gathered despite permission for only 10,000 for a rally of TVK. Near the Iyappa Bakery, where the incident unfolded, residents acknowledge the traged,y but downplay its electoral impact.
“It was a terrible incident, but we have to move forward and ensure it is not repeated,” said Gopal, a college graduate and ardent Vijay supporter. Among younger voters, enthusiasm for Vijay remains strong, even if many concede that the immediate contest is between the DMK and AIADMK. “This is Senthil Balaji’s stronghold, and he will ensure his party wins,” said a voter who supported the DMK in the last election, but is undecided this time.
Grassroots mobilisation is already underway. A party worker noted that in his ward of around 900 voters, 5-8 per cent are aged between 18 and 35, with several leaning towards Vijay. “People feel the Dravidian parties have ruled for decades. They want change,” said Akash, a 32-year-old cab driver, who plans to vote for TVK. “Even if Vijay doesn’t win now, his presence will shape future elections.”
Mix of communities
Karur’s social fabric is complex, with Gounders, Naickers and Chettiars forming dominant communities, alongside a significant Scheduled Caste population. The constituency faces persistent issues — public safety, caste disparities and environmental concerns.
In August 2025, a 200-foot-long “wall of untouchability” built on government land triggered outrage before being demolished. Meanwhile, Karur’s thriving textile and dyeing industries continue to pose environmental risks, particularly through chemical waste affecting groundwater in nearby villages.
Yet, these concerns appear sidelined in the current campaign. “Today, no one is talking about social or environmental issues — only about Vijay’s impact,” said Kuppan, a regular at the Iyappa Bakery.
Published on April 21, 2026