As Tamil superstar-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) was set to hold its public meeting commencing at 4 p.m. on Sunday, cadres and fans started pouring into the venue in Vikkaravandi, Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu. Tamil superstar Suriya extended his wishes to Vijay, whom he calls his “Nanban” (friend). An estimated 2,00,000 people are expected to attend the conference, and the Tamil Nadu Home Department has deployed 6,000 police officers to ensure security.

North Zone Inspector General of Police, Asra Garg, will oversee security operations, with four DIGs and 10 SPs supporting him along with additional personnel. The atmosphere near V Salai, close to Vikravandi, was filled with anticipation as Vijay was expected to announce his party’s agenda and policies at the TVK inaugural state meet.

Reports suggest several film personalities and retired senior bureaucrats would likely join the TVK. The event was set up across an 85-acre area with an additional 207 acres designated for parking.

The main entrance of the public meeting was styled like Chennai’s historic Fort St George, lending grandeur to the event. The venue featured towering cutouts of iconic figures such as B. R. Ambedkar, Periyar E. V. Ramasamy, K. Kamaraj, Velu Nachiyar, Anjalai Ammal, and the kings of Chera, Chola, and Pandya dynasties, along with a massive cutout of Vijay himself.

Two caravans, 18 medical teams with doctors, and 22 ambulances were stationed at the site. Fans and party cadres began arriving as early as Saturday, though media access to the venue has been restricted.

However, there were many untoward incidents before the public meeting.

Two youths from the Tamilagan Vetri Kazhagam in Chennai set out early in the morning on a two-wheeler for the Vikravandi conference, proudly displaying the party flag on their vehicle. Near Teynampet, they reportedly missed a traffic signal and collided with a passing lorry while attempting a turn. The impact of the accident was severe; one of the youths died at the scene, while the other sustained serious injuries and was promptly taken to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai for treatment. The deceased’s body has been sent to Royapettah for a postmortem examination.

At 11:50 p.m., a group of 11 people from Nanmangalam, near Tambaram, set off in a tempo traveler for a conference. Karthik, 25, a resident of Indira Nagar, Nanmangalam, drove the vehicle. On the Tambaram-Velacherry road, while attempting to overtake a lorry, the van lost control and overturned. Nearby bystanders promptly came to their aid, rescuing the occupants and rushing them to the hospital. Thankfully, all 11 passengers sustained only minor injuries.

Although the driver, Karthik, was not seriously injured, he fainted due to the shock of the accident. Pallikaranai Traffic Investigation Division Officers arrived at the scene, cleared the overturned van, and restored traffic flow. The police have registered a case and initiated an investigation into the incident.

The event was set to include cultural programmes, speeches by key party leaders, and a presidential address by Vijay, who was expected to unveil the party’s principles. However, the official event schedule has not been shared with the media till now.

Udayakumar, an IT professional from Madurai, who arrived for the conference, told IANS, “Vijay’s entry into politics is good for Tamil Nadu and its people. He has done careful homework before stepping into politics and is targeting the 2026 Assembly elections. I hope to see him as the next Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.”

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