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Published Aug 26, 2024 | 11:53 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 26, 2024 | 11:53 AM
Vijay with the TVK flag. (X)
What is in a flag? Lots, actor ‘Thalapathi’ Vijay learnt the hard way after unveiling his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s flag in Chennai on 22 August. He also learnt that politics is a different cup of tea.
Apart from its similarity to the Spanish national flag colours — a horizontal yellow strip flanked by two red stripes on top and bottom — and the emblem, at one glance, looking like that of Kerala State Road Transport Corporation’s twin elephants — the flower pictured in the flag, too, has come in for criticism.
The harshest take came from the Bahujan Samaj Party, which said it would challenge TVK for stealing its poll symbol, the elephant. BSP state president Ananthan said the election commission had barred others from using the elephant symbol, and that he would move legally if the TVK did not drop the jumbos.
Some took umbrage at the TVK using the albizia lebbeck flower as part of the emblem. They claimed the pink flower is Samanea saman, native to Central and South America.
Adding to the heated debate is the car that took Vijay to the party headquarters at Panaiyur in Chennai from his residence. The Coimbatore-registered car, a Toyota Innova Crysta, bearing the registration number TN-37-DR-1111, has been penalised for multiple traffic violations. Of the ₹4,700 fine slapped on the vehicle, only ₹200 has been paid, critics pointed out.
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