Vijay's Political Party Makes Formal Symbol Request to Election Commission
Chennai-based actor-politician Vijay's newly formed political outfit, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), has officially approached the Election Commission of India seeking a common election symbol for its candidates in the upcoming polls. This marks a significant step for the party as it prepares for its maiden electoral contest.
Symbol Selection Process and Preferred Choices
On Tuesday, TVK joint general secretary C T R Nirmal Kumar submitted an application before the ECI in New Delhi under the Election Symbols Order of 1968. The application contained a list of 10 potential symbols that included whistle, autorickshaw, and microphone among others.
Party sources revealed that the whistle has emerged as the most preferred symbol, primarily because of its connection to Vijay's 2019 blockbuster film 'Bigil'. In the sports drama, Vijay played the role of a football coach who frequently used a whistle.
A senior TVK leader explained their strategy: "The party wants a symbol that is simple, easily relatable for the masses, and one that could be taken to every voter within the next few months." The leader emphasized that such a symbol could serve as an effective campaign tool since it's easy to carry and distribute among cadres during political rallies.
Technical Aspects and Political Significance
Of the ten symbols submitted to the Election Commission, seven are from the pool of free symbols available for newly registered parties, while three were described as 'self-created' symbols by the party leadership.
Political analyst N Sathyamoorthy highlighted the importance of symbol selection, stating that symbols matter as much as candidate names in Indian elections. "Recognition and recall value play a key role on the polling day," he noted, adding that the whistle could work better from a campaign perspective since it's easier to draw on walls and clearly visible on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
The common election symbols are allotted by the Election Commission on a first-come, first-served basis, making TVK's early application strategically important.
Broader Political Context and Parallel Developments
In related political developments, Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) has also submitted a letter to the ECI seeking the torchlight symbol. Meanwhile, PMK senior leader G K Mani submitted a letter from party founder S Ramadoss to chief electoral officer Archana Patnaik at the Secretariat.
Sources indicated that Ramadoss has demanded the mango symbol for his party, pointing out that he was authorized to sign the forms A and B for the allotment of the mango symbol until the general elections in 2024. The ECI had previously sent a letter to the chief electoral officers of Bihar, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry in July, declaring that PMK candidates were eligible for the mango symbol in upcoming assembly elections.
These simultaneous symbol requests highlight the intense preparations underway among Tamil Nadu's political parties as they gear up for future electoral battles, with newcomer TVK seeking to establish its identity through a carefully chosen election symbol that resonates with the masses.
