Actor and politician Vijay will speak at his first public meeting in Puducherry on Tuesday. He will address people from the rooftop of his campaign bus. His party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), says this is a single gathering, not a roadshow. This is his first outdoor political event since the Karur stampede in September that killed 41 people.
How many people are allowed at the rally?
The Puducherry Police granted permission for the event at the Expo Ground with attendance strictly capped at 5,000 people from the Union Territory. Senior Superintendent of Police (Law & Order) R Kalaivanan said the given guidelines must be strictly followed.
The rally is expected to start around 10.30 and to conclude by 12.30 pm. Vijay is likely to reach the venue around 11 am. He will address the rally from a specially arranged campaign vehicle, which arrived in Puducherry on Monday night. Addressing will be from the rooftop of the vehicle.
QR code entry at actor Vijay’s rally
Entry to the Puducherry rally will be allowed strictly through a QR code. TVK party officials issued the codes exclusively to party members and local residents of Puducherry. Those wishing to attend were required to collect the QR code in advance. However, if the number of attendees exceeds the limit, the QR codes may no longer guarantee entry.
Who can attend actor Vijay’s rally?
- Police said the QR-coded entry passes issued by the party, and no one will be allowed without it
- Children, pregnant women, senior citizens, and those with health issues will not be permitted
- The event is exclusively for Puducherry residents, and people from neighbouring districts of Tamil Nadu have been asked to refrain from travelling to the venue.
The TVK must also ensure drinking water, toilets, ambulances and other safety amenities. After Puducherry, Vijay is expected to resume his statewide tour in Tamil Nadu from Erode later this month.
Vijay is very popular in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry. He wants to strengthen his party’s presence in Puducherry. His visit is politically important and comes while the CBI is still investigating the Karur stampede.
Earlier, the Tamil Nadu government said his late arrival caused the tragedy. Vijay called this a political conspiracy by the ruling DMK. He also blamed the police for mistakes. The state government and the DMK have denied these claims.
