Woman threatened over TVK Pongal kolam in Tiruchengode

NAMAKKAL: A woman, Jayalakshmi, said she was threatened by DMK members in Tiruchengode in Namakkal dist after she drew a kolam featuring the Tamilaga Vettrik Kazhagam (TVK) flag as part of a Pongal festival competition on Thursday.The TVK announced a kolam (rangoli) competition called 'Vetri Pongal Festival' in Tiruchengode. It said participants who drew a kolam on their doorstep should write one of these words: This is TVK Pongal, Pongalo Pongal Vetri Pongal, Thai Pongal, This is Thalapathy Pongal, Happy TVK Pongal, and that a prize would be awarded. It also announced a surprise prize for everyone who took a selfie with the written kolam and sent it, and said the prize would be given on the 25th and 26th.Women learnt about the competition through WhatsApp and social media said they wrote “This is TVK Pongal” while drawing kolams outside their homes. They added that many TVK members keep pictures of the elephant symbol in their houses, and that some participants also drew Vijay’s image alongside the slogan “This is TVK Pongal”.Jayalakshmi said some DMK members who saw the kolam with the TVK flag asked why she was drawing the kolam. "They also forced me to destroy the kolan," she said adding that they threatened her if she refused to do so.However, Jayalakshmi didn't give any police complaint.