ECI Allots Election Symbols to Vijay’s TVK and Kamal Haasan’s MNM Ahead of Tamil Nadu Polls

Chennai, Jan 2026 : As preparations for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections gather pace, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has allotted election symbols to two prominent political parties, providing early clarity in the evolving electoral landscape. Actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has been assigned the ‘whistle’ as its common election symbol, while Kamal Haasan-led Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) will continue to contest under the ‘battery torch’ symbol.

The allocation of the whistle symbol to the TVK follows the party’s request for a single common symbol for all its candidates across the state. TVK is a registered but unrecognised political party and the 2026 Assembly election will mark its electoral debut. Election officials said the allotment will enable the party to contest uniformly across constituencies and help voters easily identify its candidates on the ballot.

Party sources said the whistle symbol resonates strongly with TVK’s political narrative, which centres on vigilance, accountability and calling out corruption and misgovernance. The symbol is also seen as an effective visual tool to communicate the party’s message, particularly among first-time voters and younger sections of the electorate. With Vijay’s entry into active politics generating widespread public interest, the whistle is expected to become a key element in building the party’s identity and recognition at the grassroots level.

For the MNM, the Election Commission’s decision to allot the battery torch symbol ensures continuity with the party’s previous electoral campaign. MNM had approached the Commission seeking retention of the same symbol it used during the 2021 Assembly elections, citing voter familiarity and recall value. The approval provides the party with much-needed clarity as it prepares to step up political mobilisation for the upcoming polls.

Founded in 2018 by actor and public intellectual Kamal Haasan, the MNM positions itself as a reform-oriented and issue-based political alternative in Tamil Nadu. Although the party did not win any Assembly seats in the last election, its leadership believes that maintaining the battery torch symbol will help reinforce its presence among supporters and strengthen its messaging in the 2026 contest.

With election symbols now finalised for both TVK and MNM, political attention is expected to shift towards candidate selection, campaign strategies and potential alliance formations. As newer political outfits seek to carve out space alongside established Dravidian parties, the allotment of symbols marks a significant early milestone in the run-up to the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, setting the stage for an increasingly competitive and closely watched political battle.