Vijay's TVK free to use elephant symbol on flag: ECI
Panel says not responsible for party flags but only poll symbols
Actor Vijay during TVK party flag launch (Justin George)
CHENNAI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has refused to restrain the recently launched political party TVK from using the ‘elephant’ symbol in its flag.
Responding to the complaint letter, written by Bahujan Samaj Party national general secretary Satish Chandra Misra to restrain actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) from using their reserved ‘elephant’ elephant, the Secretariat of the Election Commission of India clarified that it neither approves nor endorses flags or other emblems of any political party.
In a reply letter, Manish Kumar, Under Secretary, Secretariat of ECI said a temporary symbol (from the symbol list) will be allocated to Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam only when the party applies for a symbol after its registration during the relevant period preceding an election.
"In the registration letter issued to a political party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, is informed that the ECI does not approve the flag used by a political party, and if the party has a flag, it will be the responsibility of the party to ensure that the flag does not violate the provisions of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950 or the flag code of India or any other relevant law related to the subject and that its flag does not imitate in any manner the flag of any other political party," the ECI said.
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With this, actor Vijay's TVK can continue to use its red, yellow, green and blue flag which features Vagai 'Malar' (flower) in the middle and two fighting tuskers on either side without any hindrance. The flower is also known as the Albizia lebbeck while the word 'vaagai' means 'victory' in Tamil.
It may be noted that the actor had launched his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam's official flag and flag anthem on August 22 and is all set to hold his first-ever political conference in Vikravandi on October 27.
The TVK, which was launched in February this year, was also officially recognised by the Election Commission earlier in September.