A recent flag design has stirred up controversy in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape. The Tamil Nadu super star Vijay’s Tamil Nadu Vetri Kazhagam, created a new flag that caught the attention of other political parties. This tricolor flag features red bands on the top and bottom, with a yellow strip in the middle. At its center is a flower surrounded by stars, originally flanked by two elephants.

The elephant symbols quickly became a point of contention. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), a major national party in India, raised concerns about the similarity to their own party symbol. The BSP has long used an elephant as its official emblem, making it a recognizable part of their political identity.

This similarity led to worries about potential voter confusion during elections. In India, where party symbols play a crucial role in helping voters identify their preferred candidates, such resemblances can be problematic. The Tamil Nadu branch of the BSP took action by filing a complaint with the Election Commission of India. They argued that the use of the elephant symbol by another party violated election rules and demanded its removal from the Tamil Nadu Victory Kazhagam’s flag.

In response to the controversy, the Election Commission of India issued a statement clarifying their position. They explained that the Tamil Nadu Vetri Kazhagam had been given a temporary symbol from the free symbol list, as is standard practice for registered parties. The Commission emphasized that parties can only apply for and receive official symbols before elections.

Importantly, the Election Commission made it clear that they do not endorse or approve party flags. Their jurisdiction is limited to official symbols used on ballots, not the designs parties use on their flags or other materials. As such, they stated they would not intervene in this flag dispute.

-Sanyogita