Vijay’s TVK Secures ‘Whistle’ Symbol as ECI Clears Poll Identity
The Election Commission of India has allotted the ‘whistle’ symbol to Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and the ‘battery torch’ symbol to Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
Arunkumar Gowrishankar 
On Thursday, January 22, 2026, the Election Commission of India (ECI) assigned the ‘whistle’ symbol to actor-turned-politician Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), for the forthcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
TVK, a new political entrant, had approached the ECI on November 11 last year requesting an official election symbol under the provisions of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968. The party submitted a list that included seven available free symbols along with three self-designed symbols for the Commission’s review.
At the same time, the ECI granted the ‘battery torch’ symbol to Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), led by actor-politician Kamal Haasan. MNM had previously contested both the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections using the same symbol.
