The Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially recognised Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) as a recognised State Political Party in Tamil Nadu and confirmed its election symbol, the Whistle. The development marks a significant milestone for the actor-turned-politician Vijay-led party.
The recognition comes after the party’s performance in the Assembly election, in which it won 108 of the 234 seats in the State.
BIG BREAKING:
The Election Commission of India has officially recognised Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) as a recognised State Political Party in Tamil Nadu and has also confirmed the party’s election symbol, the Whistle. pic.twitter.com/wIsqRYcwCc
— Actor Vijay Team (@ActorVijayTeam) September 10, 2026
In a communication dated September 9, the ECI said it had reviewed TVK’s performance in the 2026 Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Assembly elections and found that the party had fulfilled the conditions prescribed under Para 6A of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.
Accordingly, the Commission granted TVK recognition as a State party in Tamil Nadu as well as in the Union Territory of Puducherry.
The ECI said the ‘Whistle’ symbol had been reserved for TVK in both Tamil Nadu and Puducherry following the party’s request dated July 2, 2026. A formal notification regarding the symbol will be issued separately.
TVK forms new alliance
In another development, TVK announced the formation of Madha chaarbartra Samooga Needi Vettri Kootani [Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance (SSJCA)] on September 9. Party president C Joseph Vijay will be the chairperson of the front.
CPI(M) and CPI have opted out of the alliance, though they are extending outside support to the TVK government, while Congress, VCK, MDMK and IUML have rallied behind Vijay in the new alliance.
The move is aimed at consolidating his coalition. Some have questioned whether the first political fault lines within the alliance will begin to emerge in due course.
CM Vijay Joseph chaired a meeting at the TVK party headquarters in Panaiyur, where the leaders present agreed to work together in both Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
Thol Thirumavalavan, MDMK leader Vaiko, TNCC president Manickam Tagore, IUML national president Khader Mohideen, TVK senior leaders and ministers Aadhav Arjuna and KG Arunraj later addressed a joint press conference, while CM Vijay skipped the press meet.
Thirumavalavan said secularism and social justice were the two core ideologies of the alliance and that it was opposed to communal forces.
He said, “The front will continue to fight communal and Hindutva forces. We have formed this alliance with a long-term vision to safeguard secularism, social justice and equality guaranteed by the Constitution. We will pursue our journey with those ideologies while also facing and winning the elections that come along the way.”
Rahul Gandhi PM candidature
The TNCC chief refused to comment when asked whether the alliance would accept Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as the PM candidate. He said Vijay would back the candidate to be named by the I.N.D.I.A bloc ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. Vijay would ‘campaign for that candidate’.
While Congress leaders are firm on Rahul Gandhi as the PM candidate, TVK fans and leaders believe that Vijay should be announced as the PM candidate.
With that intent, social media in the north has been flooded with promotional material on Vijay and his government’s achievements.
Barring TVK, all other members of the TVK-led alliance were part of the DMK-led secular progressive alliance during the 2026 Assembly elections. They joined TVK after the poll results, allegedly for ministerial and attendant benefits.
TVK minister and General Secretary Arunraj said, “The name of the alliance sends a message that this front will fight communal forces in Tamil Nadu and across the country.”
IUML leader Khader Mohideen said TVK had created history by forming a coalition government and that “this will go a long way”.
BJP attacks TVK-led alliance
The TN BJP chief spokesperson said, “TVK-led alliance is communal, casteist and anti-social.”
TN BJP functionary SG Surya said in a post on X: “Having a party called the Muslim League as part of your coalition and still claiming to represent ‘secular’ politics is perhaps one of the greatest political ironies of our time. Identity-based politics for electoral convenience, and secularism as a slogan for public consumption!”
Having a party called the Muslim League as part of your coalition and still claiming to represent “மதச்சார்பற்ற” (secular) politics is perhaps one of the greatest political ironies of our time.
Identity-based politics for electoral convenience, and secularism as a slogan for… pic.twitter.com/dMf7CZmBUS
— Dr.SG Suryah (@SuryahSG) September 9, 2026
Sanghi Prince questioned the alliance that says it is secular, asking whether IUML is not a communal party.
தவெக கூட்டணியின் பெயர் "மதச்சார்பற்ற சமூகநீதி வெற்றிக் கூட்டணி" என அறிவிப்பு -செய்தி
அந்த பாய் கட்சி பேர் என்ன ?
இந்தியன் யூனியன் முஸ்லீம் லீக்கூட்டணி பெயர் என்ன ?
மதச்சார்பற்ற சமூகநீதி வெற்றிக் கூட்டணிசூப்பர் ப்ரோ.😂 pic.twitter.com/fpmUMLFd6v
— Sanghi Prince 🚩 (@SanghiPrince) September 9, 2026
A critic said, “Thirumavalavan, who heads a caste outfit, calls himself a secular by aligning with religion-centric Muslim and Christian parties. He is assumed to be a Christian, is known for his anti-Sanatana comments and rabid Hindu-phobic remarks.”
With the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and the AIADMK-BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) already active in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape, the new alliance effectively marks the emergence of a third political front in the State.
The question now is whether it will emerge as a third front in Tamil Nadu in the coming days.
