Hours after a man died of suspected heatstroke at a rally addressed by Vijay in Salem, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) took a swipe at the actor-turned-politician, suggesting that people may need to “carry a coffin” to attend his meetings in future.
AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyan shared a social media post featuring the viral Dancing Pallbearers — a Ghanaian group known for performing energetic coffin dances at funerals. The group had gained worldwide attention for their choreographed performances while carrying caskets. In his post, Sathyan remarked that attending a rally of Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) might soon require people to bring their own coffins.
There was no immediate response from the TVK to the remarks.
Earlier in the day, a man collapsed during Vijay’s public meeting in Salem and later died. Police sources said the death was primarily due to heatstroke triggered by dehydration, though they added that the victim had pre-existing heart conditions.
In a post on X, TVK leader Nirmal Kumar identified the deceased as Suraj. He said Suraj suddenly fell ill at the venue and was given first aid before being rushed to hospital, where he later died. Calling the incident heartbreaking, Kumar expressed condolences to the family.
Police sources further stated that more than 7,000 people were allowed into the venue, which had a sanctioned capacity of 5,000. They also noted that people with known health issues were permitted to attend. An FIR is expected to be registered against the organisers once the exact cause of death is officially confirmed.
The incident has drawn comparisons to the rally held in Karur last September that ended in a stampede claiming 41 lives.
Following that tragedy, authorities had reportedly put in place tighter safety arrangements for the Salem event, including heavy police deployment, vehicle checks at entry points and traffic diversions aimed at preventing overcrowding.