Vijay Pulls Out Of Several Tamil Nadu Poll Events, DMK Mocks ‘WFH’ Style

With just eight days left for campaigning ahead of the April 23 Tamil Nadu election, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is facing growing scrutiny after several scheduled appearances by its chief campaigner, actor-politician Vijay, were called off during the crucial final stretch. The repeated cancellations have triggered political attacks from rivals, especially the ruling DMK, even as party insiders insist the decisions are linked to security concerns and logistical complications.

TVK Campaign Hit by Repeated Last-Minute Cancellations

As the Tamil Nadu election campaign enters its most intense phase, Vijay's absence from multiple planned rallies has become a major talking point. Since election dates were announced on March 15, the TVK leader has cancelled a number of campaign events despite permissions being granted by the Election Commission. The party has not publicly offered detailed explanations for many of the abrupt changes.

Vijay, 52, filed his nomination on March 30 and began his campaign in Perambur, where he is contesting, before moving to Kolathur. However, a planned event in Villivakkam was later cancelled, with TVK blaming police security lapses. He subsequently campaigned in Tiruchirappalli East on April 2 and in Puducherry on April 4, before a four-day pause in campaign activity.

Safety and Logistical Concerns Behind Vijay's Decision

A roadshow scheduled in T Nagar and Villivakkam on April 6 was also scrapped, with the party citing time constraints. TVK has alleged that police authorities have been deliberately limiting campaign duration, making it difficult to execute public outreach plans.

Though Vijay returned to the trail with a major roadshow in Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi on April 8, his April 9 event in Cuddalore was cancelled soon after. According to party sources, logistical issues played a major role, including a 175-kilometre stretch through Puducherry where polling was underway, along with broader concerns over crowd safety.

Further events scheduled for April 11 in Cuddalore and April 13 in Tiruvallur were also called off. Vijay is now expected to campaign in Kanniyakumari on April 13 and Pudukottai on April 14.

Karur Stampede Shadow Looms Over TVK Strategy

Party insiders say Vijay has become extremely cautious about attending large public gatherings after the Karur stampede tragedy. The incident, which took place during one of his public events in September last year, left 41 people dead and triggered serious allegations of mismanagement against TVK.

That tragedy appears to be shaping the party's current campaign strategy, especially in the final phase when rallies are usually at their largest and most crowded. Even so, the repeated cancellations have created challenges for TVK candidates, many of whom are now being forced to find creative alternatives in Vijay's absence.

In Tiruverumbur, TVK candidate Navalpattu Viji reportedly campaigned using Vijay's cut-out, while in Kolathur, candidate VS Babu brought in a Vijay lookalike to attract crowds and energise supporters.

DMK Attacks Vijay Over 'Work-From-Home' Campaign

Vijay's decision to skip several rallies has given rival parties fresh ammunition, with the ruling DMK mocking what it calls a remote-style election strategy. The party has said Vijay is running a "work-from-home" election campaign.

Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, son of Chief Minister MK Stalin, also took aim at the TVK chief, suggesting that while some leaders remain constantly on the ground engaging with voters, others are taking breaks between appearances.

The criticism comes at a time when major state leaders, including Chief Minister MK Stalin, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, and NTK chief Seeman, are campaigning aggressively across Tamil Nadu. In contrast, TVK, which is making its electoral debut, is facing pressure over whether Vijay can cover enough ground before campaigning ends.

Despite his enormous popularity and star appeal, many observers believe that direct voter outreach will be essential if TVK hopes to convert fan enthusiasm into votes. Party sources maintain that Vijay is likely to step up his campaign in the final days before polling, making the coming week crucial for the actor-politician and his fledgling party.