BJP responds to allegations of Vijay being its 'B-team'
What's the story
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has responded to the opposition's allegations that actor-turned-politician Vijay is part of its "B-team." The controversy was sparked by a stampede at Vijay's rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, on September 27, which left 41 dead and over 60 injured. Eyewitnesses said a power outage and crowd surge contributed to the tragedy.
Rally chaos
BJP blames DMK for stampede
BJP leader Khusbu Sundar accused the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) of negligence in providing a proper space for the rally. She said, "The entire people of Tamil Nadu believe that there was complete negligence." Sundar also slammed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin for not addressing the issue after the tragedy. The stampede occurred when Vijay arrived late at around 7:00pm, causing another crowd surge.
Party stance
Senior BJP leader responds to allegations
In response to the opposition's allegations, senior BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan said, "I don't know about 'A-team' or 'B-team.' There can be an 'A to Z team.'" She added that the BJP is a "people's team." NDTV reported sources indicating that the BJP is looking to leverage Vijay's popularity for the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly elections.
Election strategy
BJP reaches out to Vijay's party amid 'B-team' speculation
Reportedly, the BJP has reached out to Vijay's party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), after the stampede. A senior BJP leader assured TVK that Vijay wouldn't be alone if he were targeted by DMK. The party also advised patience and plans to corner DMK in future political strategies, the same sources were quoted as saying by NDTV.