Compiled by SALMA FAIRUS, ALLISON LAI AND R.ARAVINTAN
A MUCH anticipated mega rally of Indian actor Vijay’s political party took an inauspicious turn when a 100-foot pole crushed a car, Makkal Osai reported.
The incident happened as the party was preparing for its second open rally on Aug 21 in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai district.
An estimated 150,000 people attended the event.
About 3,000 police personnel were deployed for security.
The metal pole was being lifted by a crane to be installed when it began slipping from the straps.
The pole fell and crushed an SUV, but luckily no one was injured as the vehicle was empty.
Vijay, one of the highest grossing actors in Tamil cinema, started the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam in 2024 and entered state politics.
His party has promised to replace the SUV.
In yet another incident viewed as a “bad omen”, a young supporter died suddenly while on the way to the rally with friends.
State assembly polls are expected to be held by May next year.
(The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.)
