Ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections scheduled this year, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has allotted the ‘whistle’ symbol to actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), while Kamal Haasan-led Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) has been assigned the ‘battery torch’ symbol.
The allotment brings clarity as political parties intensify preparations for the high-stakes polls.
TVK, a registered but unrecognised political party, had sought a common symbol for all its candidates across the state. The ECI’s approval is being seen as a significant organisational milestone for the party, which will be contesting its first Assembly election in 2026. TVK joint general secretary C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar said the whistle was the party’s priority symbol and was chosen from a list of 10 options submitted to the Commission.
“The overall expectation and desire of the people of Tamil Nadu is that our leader should become the Chief Minister. As a first step, this symbol has been given,” he cited, adding that party cadres had already begun promoting the symbol across the state.
“The whistle has reached Tamil Nadu, with workers spreading the message enthusiastically,” Kumar said.
Calling the 2026 polls TVK’s first major electoral test, Kumar expressed confidence in the party’s prospects.
“Two years after our launch, this will be our debut Assembly election. We are confident of a massive win and Vijay becoming Chief Minister,” he said.
Party sources said the whistle symbol aligns closely with Vijay’s on-screen persona and political messaging. A popular song titled Whistle Podu from his 2024 film GOAT carried political undertones, while one of his earlier films, Bigil, literally translates to “whistle”. According to the party, the symbol represents vigilance, accountability, and raising a strong voice against corruption and misgovernance.
Reacting to the development, senior Congress leader Praveen Chakravarty posted on X: “The TN 2026 election ‘whistle’ is blown! All parties are now Ready, Set, Go.”
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has retained the ‘battery torch’ symbol for MNM, as requested by the party. The symbol was also used by the party in the 2021 Assembly elections.
Founded in 2018, MNM positions itself as a reform-oriented, issue-based political platform. Although it failed to win any seats in the previous election, party leaders believe that retaining the symbol will help strengthen voter recall and aid mobilisation ahead of the upcoming polls.
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