Tamil Nadu Stampede | Whom Do People Blame, Vijay or DMK ? C Voter Survey Reveals

On Mojo Story with Barkha Dutt, a panel of experts and political voices joined the discussion:

• Dr. Sumanth Raman, political analyst

• Ranjana Nachiyaar, TVK spokesperson

• Yashwant Deshmukh, psephologist and founder of C-Voter

• Salem Dharanidharan, DMK leader

According to a snap poll by C-Voter, 42.3% of respondents rejected Vijay’s claim of a conspiracy, while nearly half criticized him for leaving the stampede site. The survey also blamed poor DMK policing for the tragedy, though many agreed Vijay’s own reaction severely dented his image as a leader.

DMK leaders argued that rally mismanagement and violations by Vijay’s team caused the chaos, while the TVK insisted the incident was “engineered” against their leader. Analysts, however, noted that the public viewed this more as a failure of both administration and moral leadership.

Dr. Raman underlined that Vijay’s absence after the tragedy reflected a lack of empathy, comparing it unfavorably to other leaders who took charge during crises. Yashwant Deshmukh added that such moments can “make or break” political careers, and in Vijay’s case, his credibility has taken a hit.

In conclusion, Barkha Dutt reminded viewers: “No politician or film star is worth dying for. Leaders must ensure safe spaces for their supporters.” The debate makes clear that this tragedy will have long-lasting consequences for both Vijay’s political journey and Tamil Nadu’s governance.