Actor-politician Vijay unveils party flag, gears up for 2026 Assembly polls

Popular Tamil film actor-turned-politician Vijay unveiled the flag of his political party - Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam - on Thursday and hoisted it at his party headquarters in Panaiyur near here.

The two-coloured flag with maroon on top and bottom, has a yellow horizontal stripe in the middle with a motif of two fighting tuskers on either side of the Vaagai flower.

The ''vaagai'' flower is also known as the Albizia lebbeck. The word ''vaagai'' means ''victory'' in Tamil.

However, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) objected to the use of the elephant image on TVK's flag saying this violated the Election Commission's rules.

BSP Tamil Nadu unit president P Anandan said the elephant was the election symbol assigned to the BSP in 1993 by the ECI.

The unveiling of the flag and also the official launch of the party anthem by Vijay heralds a new chapter in Tamil Nadu politics marked by the entry of the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), which is gearing up to face the 2026 Assembly elections in the state.

Though the 50-year-old actor announced the launch of his political outfit in February, he chose not to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections nor did it support any party during the polls.

While unveiling the TVK flag, the top actor took a pledge along with his party workers.

''We will always appreciate the fighters who fought and sacrificed their lives for the liberation of our country, and countless soldiers who fought tirelessly for the rights of our people from Tamil soil,'' the pledge read.

The party took a vow to remove the differences in the name of caste, religion, gender, place of birth and also to create awareness among the people and strive for equal opportunities and equal rights for all.

''There's an interesting story of historical significance behind the (party) flag. I will explain it along with party principles and plan of action at the upcoming state-level conference,'' Vijay said, addressing the party workers.

''This is not a mere party flag. I see it as a flag of the victory of Tamil Nadu's future generations,'' he said at the event which was also attended by his parents, film director S A Chandrasekhar and Shobha Chandrasekhar.

He called upon the party workers to strive hard in the coming years and uplift the people.

The TVK's first state-level conference will be announced soon.

''So far, we have looked after ourselves and from now on we will work for the growth of Tamil Nadu and its people,'' Vijay said and added, ''be confident, (our) victory is certain.'' P Anandan, who assumed charge as BSP state chief recently, said in a video posted on his ''X' site that the party flag unveiled by Vijay contained two elephants. ''Elephant is the election symbol assigned to the BSP in 1993 by the ECI,'' he said.

''As per the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) order, 1968, of the ECI, and also the commission's 2004 notification except in Assam and Sikkim, no other state or national recognised political parties should use the elephant symbol,'' he said.

After his party's central leadership flagged the issue, the TVK leaders were informed. ''We spoke to Vijay's manager Venkat and explained to him in detail and also submitted documents. He replied that the issue would be examined soon. We hope a good decision will follow,'' he said.

Anandan, further said that those who designed Vijay's party flag might not be aware of the ECI rules.

''Having an elephant symbol on the TVK's party flag will only cause huge confusion among the voters during elections. Therefore, I request that the image of elephants is immediately removed from Vijay's party flag,'' he urged.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)