Will Tamil Nadu CM C. Joseph Vijay be attending Kerala CM-designate V. D. Satheesan's swearing-in ceremony tomorrow? The official confirmation is yet to be out, but just the mere possibility of Vijay's presence at the event has already upended Thalapathy fans in Kerala prompting authorities to tighten security arrangements ahead of what is expected to be a big political event.
Congress sources say Vijay has been invited to the swearing-in ceremony scheduled to take place on May 18. The actor-turned-politician was sworn in as Tamil Nadu CM earlier this week after his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, staked claim to form a government with crucial support from the Congress and other alliance partners.
Will Vijay's Presence Turn The Swearing-In Into A Mega Crowd Event?
Vijay's super star rise in electoral politics has made him one of the biggest crowd-pullers in South India. His swearing-in ceremony in Chennai last week saw massive public turnout, viral frenzy among fans and intense security management. Videos of Vijay taking selfies with supporters and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi had taken over social media platforms.
With the possibility of his Kerala visit doing the rounds now, authorities appear set to take no chances with another uncontrollable crowd situation. Fans are already speculating about Vijay's possible arrival point, convoy routes and public appearances online fuelling further apprehensions of crowd management.
Can Fans Avoid Another Karur-Like Situation This Time?
The bizarre crowd situation following Vijay's public appearance has always been the talk of the town. Police officials are learnt to be fixing their gaze on not having another Karur-like crowd management scare where uncontrollable fan crowds and public rush led to nerve-wracking situations during political events.
Kerala Police have initiated elaborate preparations for the event, particularly in view of the fact that it may attract high-profile guests from neighbouring states. "All security measures are being taken for the swearing-in ceremony on Monday," State Police Chief Ravada Chandrasekhar was quoted as saying.
He added that the authorities were still awaiting confirmation of Vijay's attendance. Police teams are reportedly liaising with Chief Ministers' offices in various states as part of the security arrangements.
Karur Stampede: Darkest Chapter in Vijay's Political Career
The Karur crowd tragedy was one of the darkest chapters of C. Joseph Vijay's political career till date. On September 27, 2025, at least 41 people were killed and nearly 100 others injured in a massive crowd crush at a political rally organised by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam in Tamil Nadu's Karur district. The incident took place near Velusamypuram on the Karur-Erode highway after large sections of the crowd rushed toward Vijay's convoy, seeking a glimpse of the actor-turned-politician whose arrival had purportedly been delayed by nearly seven hours.
The tragedy had resulted in nationwide outrage and criticism, with senior political leaders across party lines extending condolences. Tamil Nadu government subsequently set up a one-man commission of inquiry to look into the incident.
Police officials accused TVK organisers of flouting security advice and not instituting proper crowd-control measures, even as criminal cases were filed against several party leaders. Since then, every major public appearance of Vijay has been subject to intense scrutiny regarding crowd control measures for his fans.
Congress-TVK bond
Congress played a key role in ensuring that Vijay was able to form government in Tamil Nadu after his TVK fell short of the majority mark in the Assembly elections.
The Congress-led UDF's big win in Kerala has tightened ties between regional allies, and Vijay's attendance at the function could further be seen as a sign of increased political coordination between Tamil Nadu and Kerala leaderships.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor confirmed Thursday that he will be unable to attend the ceremony due to an academic commitment in the United States.