Fact Check: Women resign from Vijay’s TVK after Karur tragedy? No, video is old
Following the Karur stampede tragedy, a video is going viral on social media claiming that the women functionaries of actor-turned-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) Party are resigning.
By - K Sherly Sharon
Claim:Women leave Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) Party days after the Karur stampede tragedy.
Fact:The claim is false. The video is from December 22, 2024, when a few women functionaries took down the TVK party flags in protest, alleging that they were not given due respect.
Hyderabad:A stampede during the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party tour in Karur on September 27 left 41 people dead. The event was led by actor-turned-politician Vijay, who is also the TVK chief.
After the incident, several videos and news reports about the party began circulating on social media.One such video shows a woman removing a TVK party flag from the front of a car. It was shared on X with the caption, “Women leaving the Vijay party.” The post claims the woman is Priyadarshini Jaipal, a TVK member from Ariyalur district. (Archive)
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that the claim is false. The video is from December 22, 2024, when a few women functionaries took down the TVK party flags in protest, alleging that they were not given due respect.
Using keyword searches we found a report published by Thanthi Media on December 22, 2024. The report was titled, "TVK women's wing functionaries in Ariyalur resign collectively from the party”.
he cover image in the report shows the same woman from the viral video. The report stated that Priyadarshini Jaipal, a resident of Karkudi Colony Street in Thapalur union, Ariyalur district, served as a union women’s wing functionary in TVK. She alleged that during a party event, she and other women functionaries were ignored and sidelined. As per the report, when they raised the issue, district-level leaders did not address it.Following the incident, more than 10 women office-bearers, including Priyadarshini Jaipal, removed the TVK party flag hoisted in the area and collectively resigned from the party.
Times of India also published a report on the incident. The report stated that the women functionaries announced their resignation from the TVK party on December 22, 2024 due to lack of respect and recognition from the party leaders. The report also quoted Priyadarshini saying “Thalaivar (Vijay) has emphasized respecting women, but district functionaries disregarded me. Despite organising and sponsoring the event, I wasn't acknowledged, and they took credit for my efforts,”
She further told the media that she no longer wished to be part of a party where her efforts are overlooked.
NewsTamil 24X7 also published a video on YouTube regarding the incident.
The day after they announced their exit from the party, Ariyalur district TVK party leaders met with the women and held talks. They felicitated the women functionaries that resigned using shawls. After this, Priyadarshini said she joined the party back and is going to continue working for the party, according to a report by One India.
The video does not show TVK women functionaries resigning after the Karur stampede tragedy. It is actually from December 22, 2024, when a few women functionaries removed the party flags in protest, claiming they were not respected and their contributions were ignored.
Therefore, NewsMeter concludes that the viral claims are false.
