The Election Commission of India on Thursday allotted ‘Whistle’ as election symbol to actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) ahead of the Tamil Nadu assembly elections, due later this year, while Actor-turned politician Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) got ‘Battery Torch’ election symbol.
Both the TVK and the MNM are registered unrecognized political parties and they had requested for concession in the allotment of a common symbol to its candidates.
The Election Commission accepted their demand, granted concession under Para 10B of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 by allocating common symbols.
After this, candidates of TVK and MNM in all Assembly Constituencies in Tamil Nadu will contest the upcoming polls on Whistle and Battery Torch symbols, respectively.
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“The Returning Officers may be directed to allot the common symbol mentioned above to the candidates set up by the aforesaid registered unrecognized political parties, subject to fulfillment of the provisions of Para 13 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 relating to setting up of candidates by these parties,” the ECI said in its notice to state Chief Electoral Officer.
However, the common symbol allotted to the TVK and MNM is only for the forthcoming Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections and further use of these symbols is not allowed after the completion of the said election.
The Assembly Elections in Tamil Nadu are scheduled to be held later this year. The poll panel, however, is yet to announce the official schedule.
Both Vijay’s TVK and Haasan’s MNM will be contesting their first assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.