TVK MLA’s Call For Change Of Cut-Out Culture Is Food For Thought

Chennai:The Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) came to power promising a change in Tamil Nadu’s political culture, which has long been marked by personality-driven politics and the projection of individual leaders through oversized cut-outs, banners and posters. However, it will take some time for it to percolate to the grassroots-level as the party’s cadre adopt the same practices, celebrating the birthdays and political milestones of functionaries with flex boards and posters along busy roads and public spaces.

A video appeal by Sholinganallur MLA ECR P. Saravanan on Monday, asking party workers in his constituency to refrain from putting up flex boards and posters featuring party leaders, is food for thought.

While the appeal signals an acknowledgement of the problem within the party, it also raises questions about whether instructions from individual legislators can change a political culture sustained by the public display of loyalty to leaders.

For residents, the issue goes beyond the appearance of political leaders on roadside installations. Banners and cut-outs placed on footpaths force pedestrians onto carriageways. Many of them obstruct motorists’ visibility. Poorly secured structures also pose risks during strong winds and rain.

V. Sandhya, a resident of Anna Nagar, said the banner issue had become a recurring source of public concern. “We, the people, have consistently raised our objections to these banners and flags, which can pose serious, even life-threatening, risks to the public. Despite clear court directives, the practice continues unabated,” she said.

Calling for firm action from the TVK leadership, Sandhya said merely appealing to the cadre would not be sufficient.

Satish Gallay, a social activist in Sholinganallur, welcomed Saravanan’s initiative and urged legislators across political parties to make similar appeals.

“I wholeheartedly welcome the initiative taken by Sholinganallur MLA ECR Saravanan, urging TVK cadre to stop putting up posters and banners. I earnestly appeal to all MLAs across Tamil Nadu, irrespective of their political affiliations, to make similar announcements and lead by example,” he said.

Political celebrations and public messages should not come at the cost of the city’s cleanliness, public safety, traffic movement and the appearance of its streets, Gallay said.

“When leaders across party lines take a united stand and their cadre follow it sincerely, we can bring about a real and lasting change. Leadership is not just about making announcements; it is about inspiring people through action,” he stressed.

The persistence of the practice is particularly striking given that the TVK had projected itself as an alternative to the established political order.

In May, TVK hoardings and flagpoles were documented in Royapuram, Velachery and along the East Coast Road. In Royapuram, a large cut-out featuring Vijay and local MLA K. Vijay Dhamu obstructed pedestrian access to a footpath near a marriage hall, forcing people to walk on the road. In Velachery, party flagpoles were installed along a road median to celebrate the victory of local candidate R. Kumar.

In Pallikaranai, residents also complained that banners celebrating TVK’s electoral victory remained along the Velachery-Tambaram Road, near Medavakkam Junction and on Jayachandran First Main Road, despite the party’s instructions against unauthorised installations.

Last week, a word level functionary of TVK in Ramapuram celebrated his birthday with hundreds of posters across the streets and busy road resulting in the competitive celebration of birthday by a DMK local functionary in the same area days later.

The practice is not exclusive to the TVK. Political parties across Tamil Nadu have routinely used banners, cut-outs and posters to celebrate electoral victories, mark birthdays and project the influence of local functionaries. Public walls, electricity distribution boxes, road margins and other civic infrastructure have become informal surfaces for political publicity.

The problem has also had fatal consequences. In September 2019, software engineer R. Subhashree died after a flex banner erected for a political functionary’s family wedding fell on her in Pallikaranai. She lost control of her two-wheeler and fell in front of a water tanker. The tragedy intensified demands for strict enforcement against unauthorised banners.

Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has introduced several measures over the years to tackle unauthorised posters and banners, but the practice has repeatedly returned, raising questions about the consistency of enforcement.

In 2015, when Saidai S. Duraisamy was Mayor, the civic body prepared an action plan to address the menace and sent it to the then chief minister, the late J. Jayalalithaa, for approval. The plan was never implemented.

Before Duraisamy’s tenure, Ma. Subramanian had imposed a ban on wall posters on arterial roads such as Anna Salai, Kamarajar Salai and Thiruvottiyur High Road, as well as in subways, on flyovers and on government buildings. However, these measures did not eliminate the practice.

GCC officials said the civic body received more than184 complaints about the poster menace this year and collected over Rs. 75,050 as fines.

“We seek support from the public to keep the city clean and beautiful. Our primary concern is to avoid pasting posters in public spaces,” a GCC official said, urging residents to report violations through the civic body’s toll-free number, 1913.