Chennai: Tamil Nadu Minister Aadhav Arjuna has revived the demand for a separate state flag, saying it should be “equal to the National Flag” and displayed at homes across the state. His remarks have drawn criticism from BJP leader Vinoj P Selvam, who warned that the proposal could encourage people to view their Tamil and Indian identities as competing loyalties.

Arjuna, who holds the Public Works and Sports portfolios in the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government, said Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay should be the first to hoist the proposed flag. He also suggested that it should be raised on two significant dates: July 18, observed as Tamil Nadu Day, and November 1, which marks the reorganisation of the state’s boundaries along linguistic lines in 1956.

The minister’s statement has brought back a proposal first pursued by the government of former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi in 1970. Although a design was prepared and presented to the Centre at the time, the proposal did not receive approval or become an official state flag.

The latest demand has also reopened questions about the constitutional and administrative position of state flags in India, particularly the rules governing their display alongside the National Flag.

Aadhav Arjuna calls for a flag to represent Tamil Nadu

Arjuna said Tamil Nadu should have a flag that represents its identity and heritage, pointing out that several states have their own flag-related symbols and traditions.

“We should create our own flag. Several states have their own flag,” the minister said.

He argued that the proposed flag should give priority to Tamil Nadu’s identity and called for it to be accorded a status equal to that of the National Flag. Arjuna said Vijay should lead the initiative by hoisting it first, with the flag subsequently displayed at homes across the state.

The minister also identified July 18 and November 1 as important dates for the proposed flag to be hoisted.

July 18 is observed as Tamil Nadu Day to commemorate the 1967 resolution passed by the Madras Legislative Assembly to rename Madras State as Tamil Nadu. November 1 marks the reorganisation of state boundaries on linguistic lines in 1956, following which the present-day administrative structure of several southern states took shape.

Arjuna’s remarks have placed the question of a separate state flag back in public discussion, although he has not outlined a final design or a formal process for securing official recognition.

What are the rules for state flags in India?

The demand has a constitutional and administrative dimension. In 2018, the Union Home Ministry told Parliament that the Constitution does not contain a provision specifically referring to a separate flag for individual states.

The rules governing the display of flags also place conditions on how any other flag can be displayed alongside the Indian National Flag. Under the Flag Code of India, another flag must not be placed above the National Flag. It also cannot be flown from the same masthead as the Tricolour.

These provisions are relevant to Arjuna’s call for a state flag to have a status equal to that of the National Flag. Any proposal would have to be considered within the existing constitutional framework and flag-display rules.

The distinction between recognising a state’s cultural identity and granting a flag official status is central to the debate. While states can promote their languages, emblems and cultural symbols, the formal recognition and display of a separate flag raise additional legal and administrative questions.

No formal approval process or final design for the proposed Tamil Nadu flag has been announced in the minister’s remarks.

BJP leader Vinoj Selvam questions the proposal

BJP leader Vinoj P Selvam criticised Arjuna’s statement, arguing that Tamil identity did not require a separate flag for recognition.

In a post on X, Selvam said the Tamil language and civilisation had their own historical significance and did not need a separate symbol to establish their identity.

“Our language did not wait for your flag. Our civilisation does not need your certificate. And our Tamil identity does not become any smaller beneath the Indian Tricolour,” he wrote.

Selvam also questioned the need to create a distinction between Tamil identity and Indian identity. He said the minister’s remarks risked encouraging a separatist mindset by presenting the two identities as competing loyalties.

“This rhetoric risks nurturing a separatist mindset, teaching people to see their Tamil and Indian identities as competing loyalties. Why manufacture a divide where we should take pride in both?” he asked.

The BJP leader further raised questions about the TVK minister’s position on the use of Tamil in places of worship. He asked whether the same principle would be extended to churches and mosques, arguing that the approach should be applied consistently across religious institutions.

Selvam also called on Arjuna to focus on issues such as education, employment and opportunities for young people. He asked the minister to explain the government’s plans for Tamil-medium students, youth employment, Tamil research and support for entrepreneurs, along with specific targets and deadlines.

The exchange has brought together questions of regional identity, language, governance and national symbols. While Arjuna has presented the flag as a symbol of Tamil Nadu’s identity, Selvam has argued that regional pride need not be expressed through a separate state flag.

Karunanidhi’s 1970 proposal remained unimplemented

Tamil Nadu’s earlier attempt to secure a separate state flag dates back to 1970, when Karunanidhi was Chief Minister.

His government approached the Centre seeking approval for a flag representing the state. The proposed design reportedly featured a grey background, with the Indian Tricolour in the upper-left corner and the state’s temple-tower emblem occupying the main portion.

Karunanidhi displayed the proposed design to reporters in Delhi and maintained that having a state flag would not undermine India’s unity or reduce the importance of the National Flag.

Then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi said she would consult other Chief Ministers on the proposal. However, it faced opposition from several political leaders, including the then Mysore Chief Minister Veerendra Patil. The proposal did not progress to official recognition and remained unimplemented. The New Indian Express

The issue has resurfaced more than five decades later, with Arjuna calling for a fresh initiative under the TVK government. However, his remarks have not yet been accompanied by a proposed design or details of any formal communication with the Union government.

Karnataka also renews its state flag demand

Arjuna’s comments came amid renewed discussion over state flags in southern India. On November 1, Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said his government would pursue official recognition for the existing red-and-yellow Kannada flag.

Shivakumar said the issue would be discussed during the forthcoming Belagavi legislature session and taken up in the Cabinet. He also spoke of introducing a legal framework to regulate the flag’s display alongside the National Flag on government buildings. Bangalore News – The Indian Express+1

Karnataka had earlier pursued official recognition for a different flag design under the government led by former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in 2018. That proposed design featured three horizontal bands of yellow, white and red, with the state emblem, the Gandabherunda, at the centre. The proposal was sent to the Centre but did not receive approval. Bangalore News – The Indian Express

Shivakumar’s latest remarks refer to the familiar red-and-yellow Kannada flag, rather than the tricolour design proposed in 2018. The state government’s plan is to discuss formal recognition and establish rules for its display.

The two developments have brought renewed attention to how regional identity is represented through state symbols, and how such symbols can be displayed within the framework governing the National Flag.

The debate now centres on identity and official recognition

The Tamil Nadu proposal and Karnataka’s renewed initiative have emerged from separate political contexts, but both raise questions about the relationship between regional identity and national symbols.

Arjuna has argued that Tamil Nadu should have a flag reflecting its distinct identity, while Selvam has maintained that Tamil pride and Indian identity should not be treated as opposing ideas. The BJP leader has also asked the minister to focus on education, employment and other governance priorities.

For Tamil Nadu, the current demand revives a proposal that remained unresolved after Karunanidhi’s initiative in 1970. Whether the TVK government takes it forward through a formal design and a request for recognition remains to be seen.

The Union government’s 2018 statement that the Constitution makes no reference to a separate state flag is an important part of the discussion. Any move towards official recognition or a prescribed display arrangement would need to be examined in the context of the applicable constitutional provisions and flag rules. Press Information Bureau+1